Maldives News DO Style

Megachip is blessed

2011-03-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Megachip, the blessed computer shop in Maldives has been one of the bloodlines of MDP during the run-up to the elections. Megachip, though a Maumoon loyal company, switch sides when it was sure Maumoon was going to fail. Major chunks of their funds was initially pumped to promote DRP and, not to keep the opposition too far away, MDP was handed out with just a minor portion of the allocated funds to ensure that deals came flowing whoever wins the presidential elections. Megachip took these as ‘Marketing’ expenses to ensure that their game of getting majority of government deals did not stop at the fall of government.

So after the elections, other computers shops saw Megachip winning lucrative deals from government organizations and companies where most MDP loyalists are the decision makers. Including STO where the Managing Director in cousin of Megachip family.

Megachip has won many deals where eyes brows have been raised and fingers pointed at them and various decision makers in those organizations. One of these deals is the controversial NEXBIS immigration border control deal.

Megachip was awarded the contract from NEXBIS to supply huge numbers of servers and computer systems months before NEXBIS was awarded the contract by Immigration Department. Since the deal was later put on hold by ACC, Megachip made a massive loss on this project.

The current government knows that in order to win 2013 they need funds. Loads and loads of cash to compete with their former allies and the opposition. Like the deal that was offered to Heavy Load, Megachip has been promised a deal.

Government has put forward a tender to purchase all the computer systems required for the government of Maldives and will be awarded to one single party for the entire year. Government has also plans to extend this contract to 3 years ensuring that Megachip wins and the blood supply of Presidential campaign can go on.

Megachip, with Parliamentarians, Government MD’s and Board Members, has set new heights in corruption and bribery that is done during day light and in front of masses.

Nexbis has explaining to do

2011-01-31T07:50:00.000-08:00

Published: November 14, 2009

CARPATHIA

http://www.smh.com.au/business/nexbis-has-explaining-to-do-20091113-ienu.html

For the past two years the Sydney technology company Nexbis has touted lucrative Asian government security contracts as the source of huge future long-term profits. Yet all may not be what it seems with the counterparty to the company's most lucrative contract.

Nexbis' market capitalisation hovers around $100 million, with more than $30 million of fresh capital raised last year from institutional investors, including QIC and Kinetic, on the promise of the 80 per cent margins on offer from sales of Nexbis' National Security Suite of secure identity document products.

But after starting this year with three big projects that one analyst thought might generate $100 million of profits next year, Nexbis is yet to deliver on its claimed potential.

In recent months the company has had two big setbacks. First, a project to provide drivers' licences in Vietnam, which Nexbis had announced as being at memorandum-of-understanding stage, has been put out to tender by Vietnamese authorities. This puts paid to Nexbis' hopes of securing the contract by its preferred method of direct negotiation.

In discussions with investors, Nexbis representatives play up their ability to leverage a network of "high-level government connections" to win big contracts across Asia.

A deal with the Department of Immigration in Malaysia last year was secured this way. The company predicted the contract, when running at full steam, would generate annual revenue of $60 million to $80 million.

It was not to be. In the second recent setback for the company a Malaysian Government reshuffle and budgetary belt-tightening led Nexbis to announce last month a "temporary halt" to supply its identification cards under the Malaysian contract "pending receipt of assurances of payment from the Government".

Even before this, questions were being asked about the Malaysian deal. Analysts had been expecting Malaysian revenue of about $25 million to June 30, and were shocked to read in the Nexbis accounts that it was only $3.3 million.

With Malaysia on ice indefinitely and Vietnam out to tender, investor attention at Nexbis' AGM later this month will no doubt centre on the company's third big contract. The deal relates to supplying customer identity cards to track purchases and refills of gas bottles under the Chinese national gas tank project. Nexbis has provided no hint that that contract, announced last November, is off track. Printing of identity cards reportedly began in April, and Nexbis booked sales revenue of $43.7 million from the contract in the June half.

So far so good, but the China cash has been slow to come in. At year end Nexbis' balance sheet showed trade receivables of $42 million, compared with $3 million the previous year. The bulk of the receivables related to the China contract. It was not until this week that the first payment against the receivables balance was confirmed, $10 million having been received.

Managing director Johann Young had sought to allay concerns over the receivables by pointing to the quality of the company's debtors. From the start, Nexbis identified the China deal as being a technology licence agreement with the "Chinese Government".

More recently when discussing this year's financial results Young was quoted as saying: ''How many companies can report a substantial growth in cash and profits, backed by safe government debtors?''

Unfortunately for investors, it not be this simple. The fine print of the Nexbis accounts suggests that the counter-party to the China deal is the Hong Kong-registered China Inspection True Product Technology Ltd (CITP), a fact Nexbis confirmed this week. To refer to CITP as an arm of the Chinese Government is perhaps something of a stretch.

According to US Securities and Exchange filings, CITP is just 12 per cent owned by a Chinese government agency involved in the claimed gas tank project. Its majority 70 per cent shareholder is the technology tiddler True Product ID of Pennsylvania.

TPID has for years pinned its hopes on providing security identification technologies to Chinese industry. Indeed, it was making claims regarding its involvement in the Chinese national gas tank project a full year before Nexbis arrived at the party.

It seems TPID's technologies are set to provide identification tags for the 130-million or so gas bottles in use in China.

This is not TPID's only Chinese contract win. Backed by the 96 per cent shareholder James Mackay, a Scottish-born businessman with a colourful track record in the internet porn and technology industries, TPID has followed in the footsteps of many Mackay companies in promising much but delivering little. At one point TPID said a contract with the China Painting and Calligraphy Organisation "had the possibility for greater potential revenues than the company's projected $1.3 billion gas tank contract with the Chinese government".

TPID has a market capitalisation of less than $1 million and is yet to report a single dollar of revenue from any source. Accounts for the nine months to March raise doubts regarding the company's going concern status.

Nexbis said this week it had received assurances from CITP that it had no connection with TPID. But curiously Nexbis also says it has no knowledge of CITP's ownership structure, raising questions as to how the company felt comfortable in saying the gas tank contract was with the "Chinese Government".

Nevertheless, if TPID's relationship with CITP is correctly recorded in SEC filings, the Nexbis team is to be commended on receiving even a $10 million payment in relation to the Chinese contract.

The quality of the Chinese contract lies at the heart of Nexbis' value and management credibility. Until the ownership of CITP is made clear, it is hard to give credence to management claims over the long-term value of this contract.

If something is too good to be true, it usually is.. so is the BID Quality awards...

2010-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

The following article was published to create awareness among Maldivian businesses on bogus awards and rankings..

Published first in May 2009
Re-Published in April 2010
Re-Published in October 2010

Please follow the link to Article and please pass on to people who believe in these Bogus Awards.

Corruption in the Open.......

2010-07-25T00:43:00.000-07:00

Just few weeks ago I received a call from a relatively new company who calls them selves "ZEBRA CROSS'. They asked for an appointment and as we always encourage new businesses, we gave them an appointment.

They cam in right on time for the appointment, They were well informed about their product and the ideas were brilliant. Thee product that they were trying to market was 3 versions of Yellow Pages. A print version, online version and a mobile application.

There marketing materials were designed with care and a lot of professionalism expect for a large number of typo errors. They had three separate brochures for their 3 products and on one of them, the print version of the yellow pages and on pages 2 and 3 I noticed something unusual.

Well, the company is owned by Mr. Mohamed Luveiz, Mr. Abdulla Ziyath and Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Didi.

The Profile says that Mr. Mohamed Luveiz and Mr. Abdulla Ziyath both hold positions at Invest maldives where Mr. Luveiz is the Head and Mr. Ziyath is the Assitant Director.

Strangely, Zebra Cross pvt. Ltd, owned by these two gentleman has been awarded numerous contracts by Invest Maldives. Including: Authentic Maldives branding campaign, IPA strategy, Marketing plan, copywriting and even the website www.investmaldives.org website.

This profile is enough proof that they abused their positions and they are constantly doing that by by using this profile to market their private business.

So what is ACC doing about this.

STO back dating Board Resolutions to fool Anti-Corruption Commission

2010-07-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

We have received confirmed news that STO board members were back dating board resolutions to avoid charges against corruption. ACC has moved in couple months ago and when asked for board resolutions they have in fact back dated these resolutions with instructions from both Shahid and Soarey.

If ACC is doing their job properly ACC needs to investigate these resolutions and hold the board members who are responsible accountable. Back dating resolutions should be considered as fraud and due process needs to be followed and justice served.

These are serious issues and corruption needs to be wiped out from this country once and for all.

From Multi Party Democracy to a Single Party Oppression

2010-05-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

Its been only 18 months since we all fought for democracy. After 30 years of oppression we finally were able to win back our freedom. But it gives me shivers to look into the future and think seriously of what our nation might become I come to one conclusion.

Adaalath. A Political party promoting nothing but Islam. Their Manifesto is Islam. So if our constitution says only Islam can be practiced in Maldives, the only party who can survive in the this, in the not so distant future, will be Adaalath Party. Anyone who defects from Adaalath could face the death penalty.

2013 will come. Those who love freedom should find ways and means to flee this country. Gather all you can. This is Afghanistan in the making and with the blessings from the very person who fought for our freedom. ANNI....

flee before you yourself face the death penalty.

Plans of bringing down MDP Government is on the horizon

2010-05-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

We have received information from trusted sources that there is going to be more votes of no confidence in the parliament. To ensure that these pass through several under the table deals is being done. Recently we came across the Education Ministry buddies Ahmed Zareer (who holds various high ranking posts in this Governement) and Abdullah Salih (who used to be Ahmed Zareer's boss at Min of Education during the time of Golhaa) taking calls and meeting up.

Abdualla Salih who is part of DQP is negotiating with Ahmed Zareer and Ilyas Labeeb to ensure that votes of no confidence passes through. Ilyas Labeeb seems to be a major key in getting Adduans together. We have information that the price Ahmed Zareer and Ilyas Labeeb is asking for is close to a million dollars for this switch from MDP to DQP. They have planned this as a surprise.

More parliamentarians are in talks with several other parties including Seafood Musthafa, who is negotiating with DRP, Colonel Mohamed Nasheed who is in direct talks with Golhaa himself, Bonda ibrey, Kubey and last minute switch over of some crook parliamentarians. Alhan Fahmy's role when his switched sides was to disperse MDP members to various different parties.

Opposition is uniting to bring an end to the rule of MDP. God bless this country. Maldivians should take this as a lesson, "Do not just vote for the person your party puts in front. Evaluate the person before you vote".

MDP Government and it's Free Giveaways

2010-05-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

Tune Hotels offered six islands in Maldives

By Lee Wei Lian

SEPANG, May 3 — The hospitality arm of the Tune Group, which controls budget carrier AirAsia, has been offered six islands in the luxury resort destination of Maldives where it can operate, said AirAsia CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia plans to start flying to the Maldives some time in the next six months.

Tune Hotels recently also announced plans to expand abroad, in Southeast Asia and Britain.

“AirAsia was invited to come and Tune Hotels was given six islands to build,” said Fernandes in a media briefing today.

A spokesman for AirAsia told The Malaysian Insider however that Tune Hotels has not decided yet if it will take up the offer.

Tune Hotels, a budget hotel chain, recently signed a RM746 million deal with London based Queensway Group to build 15 hotels in Britain.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Maldivian Falls Victim to a Scam Again... !!!!

2010-04-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

And Now another Maldivian falls victim. read article on haveeru

The following article was first published on Monday, May 25, 2009

This is exactly what I feel when a PC reseller in Maldives wins awards almost 3 consecutive years for quality. There are so many, more qualified PC distributors and resellers across the globe. Like IngramMicro or CDW or TechData. But why on earth would a plaque be awarded to a firm in Maldives for selling PCs. If it was beaches, luxury travel or fishing I can understand.

So, about a year back I did some google searching for the credibility of this so called “BID” award for Quality and Blah Blah…. And here is what I found.

1. Look up google for “business initiative directions” (that is what B.I.D stands for) and you find all sorts of web addresses under different domains listing the so called BID awards.To name a few

http://www.bid-paris.com/en/main.php

http://www.bid-org.com/menu.htm

http://worldquality.org/en/index.php

http://bid-planet.com/conbordes_archivos/index.htm

http://www.bid-quality.com/en/index.php

http://www.bid-qualitysummit.com/en/index.php

This is loads of more websites belonging to BID so they will get you the moment you type “Business Initiative Directions” on google.

2. Now let’s look at the sponsors of BID awards and the magazines on which they publish about the awards

The Magazines:

http://www.hnova.com

http://www.brandazo.com

http://www.gperson.com/

http://www.centrexp.com/

http://www.neussner.com/

http://www.gatewaycnet.com/ - New (2010)

http://www.ideasb2b.com/ - (New 2010)

Don’t you find it a little awkward that all these magazines publish only news feeds form other sources. They do not have any genuine content whatsoever. Ah… except for BID award news just to amuse you.. And all these magazines is owned by Imapress. And to deceive people they have huge pictures of World leaders on the covers of these magazines that are printed only once a year. you get my point right?....

The Main Sponsor

http://www.imarpress.com

The website of Main Sponsor is worse. Look at that website, nothing but hyperlinks.

3. Ok… now the people who pay huge sums of money, travel to Geneva and Paris and fetch these awards.

Do you guys know any company by the name Jorio Coca Cola Corse. You get the idea rigt? And if you look up google for the “Jorio Coca Cola Corse” you will only find this company only on the websites that I have highlighted at the top. Maybe the real name of Coca Cola Company is Jorio Coca Cola Corse. I don’t know! but these guys received the award.

The second type of deceit is when they use a small branch of a huge company and award them. Here is one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkfePm4HoBQ&feature=channel_page

But that is Indian Oil (Mauritius) and they don’t make a big fuss out of it. They have not even mentioned about this particular award on their website.

http://www.ioml.mu/en/news/

The third type: Who pay thousands of dollars each year to buy this award, well literally, and showcase it at their sales centre.

http://www.megachiplive.com/company/news-events/president-congratulates-megachip-maldives

And unfortunately one is a Board member of Dhiraagu and the other one is an Elected MP.

http://www.megachiplive.com

I wrote to Megachip about a year ago explaining all what I have found out above but they never bothered. Go see the awards at Megachip showroom, Majeedi Magu

Cheers to all....

And Now another Maldivian falls victim. visit link

And the OSCAR goes to! ....%$#$%-----ILYAS LABEEB

2010-03-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

To read more about "OSCARS" click here

Scaling down the Expat Labor Force

2010-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

It seems that the current government is pretty keen on getting down the number of expats working in Maldives. They seem to making life difficult for each and every Maldivian in bringing expats for employment. One thing I have come across is that when the Government is so keen on getting the number down the government should at least try and get their head expat count down.

We have a pretty huge reserve force at MNDF who the people are paying huge amounts of money for their pay, family medicals, accommodation, food and other incentive. This reserve force can be utilized for community service like keeping our infrastructure up and running. For example; how about sending all laborers at Male’ Municipality and hand over that work to MNDF. I believe there will be hundreds and hundreds of laborers employed at Municipality.

The same goes with other government bodies. Instead of paying thousands of people who basically stay home give them some work to do. At least they would earn some after some sweat.

Is Megachip really a Dell Authorized Service Provider?

2010-01-11T23:26:00.000-08:00

The recent appointment of Megachip as a Dell partner in Maldives is in many ways a very good initiative of the World's second largest computer manufacturer.

Megachip, a very capable company in the areas of retail and government tenders would be a huge boost to Dell's business in Maldives.

However, Megachip is not the only Dell Authorized distributor in Maldives. I did a little research into the legitimacy of Megachip's claims to be a partner and I have found out that there is a another partner is Maldives.

The question that came to my mind was, if there is another Dell distributor in Maldives why on earth aren't we hearing about them. So with the help Dell's corporate website I was able to search their contact by just typing 'Dell Maldives Partner' on google.

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/ap/topics/contacts/en/sadm_contacts?c=ap&l=en&s=gen&~section=011

A company named Azimuth Pvt Ltd. So I gave them a call. The answer I got from them was:

"As Dell's business model is to concentrate on Corporate and Government requirements and not to do retail consumer business AND as our business model is very much inline with Dell's model where we concentrate on solution design and implementation we do not want to concentrate on consumer". I followed by asking why they did not want to have an out let at least. "We do not want to do retail as I said earlier, But we are in the process of opening a demonstration showroom. It is not going to be entirely Dell but as we are Partners for Oracle, microsoft and Juniper, we would be doing solutions presentations there. Ofcourse all this will be based on Dell hardware".

I asked if Azimuth is also an Dell Authorized Service Provider. "As to our knowledge Dell has not accredited any partners in Maldives to be an Authorized Service Provider or DASP as in Dell's terms". So I asked why Megachip has the "DASP" sign inside their service Center. "Megachip will be in a better position to validate that for you".

So I did try to validate this but with little luck. But I found the "DASP" policy online. Looks like Megachip has bit of a long way to go achieve the "DASP".

http://www.dell.com/downloads/ap/services/indirect.pdf

Not Corruption but Daylight Robbery - STO episodes....

2009-11-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

When you think of corruption the first person to come to our minds is Yaamin... When we all believe and know that Yamin has a hierarchy of loyalists who facilitates his inflow into his wealth. These corruption and whitewash machines have been in motion for the past 20 odd years and has built an empire for Yaamin along the way and pocketing some for them selves.

It was this governments first mistake not get rid of them in the first place when they had the chance. After just a year in power we are seeing these Yaamin's machines disguise themselves as MDP loyals and do havoc to places. A classic example is STO Shareef....

Like a plaque Shareef has spread the virus of corruption into the new management of STO. From a simple deal to million dollar deals, the new management of STO and relatives of this management are pocketing huge amounts of money under the watch of Finance Ministry including the ever strong State Minister Assad, the Minister Ali Hashim and even fooling Anni into thinking that who they have appointed are indeed working for the betterment of the people.

Tomorrow we will see light to the news of Megachip (The most corrupt Computer seller during Golhaa's regime who embezzled millions using corrupt tactics mostly at Education Ministry) practicing the same tactics during the current yellow revolution.

In the coming days you will hear about more corruption inside STO partnered by Soarey, Shad (Relative of Megachip family), Shareef and even Sana Mansoor.

I have begun to believe that this is "Wathan Edhey Goiy"....

STO – Dhen V Hiyaanaiy - 2009

2009-11-19T01:53:00.000-08:00

New Government, New heads of Companies and new wave of corruption. I think this is what we should expect just after one year in power by the current Government.

Yes, corruption is rife, it is happening. New Managing Director twisting and turning documents to favor their cousin brothers. Yes, tenders are re-tendered until cousin brothers come up with the right figure. And they just did. The tender has been submitted today and we will all see it getting awarded to the cousin brothers.

In the coming days you will be hearing more on the MD and the cousin bother’s episodes to exactly how they did it. In the meantime let us all join hands and sing along….

Esss Teee Oohh – Dhen Vee Hiyaanaaiy… Esss Teee Oohhh – Dhen Vee Hiyaanaaiy…

One Year On... Have we wiped out corruption and favoritism

2009-11-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

After more than four long years of struggle to bring about democracy and rule of law to this nation , the people who sacrificed their time, energy and money celebrated the fruits of their labour on 11th on November 2008. A struggle that was painstaking and tiresome. A struggle that witnessed the torture of many and the true force of people power.

Today we mark the 1st Anniversary of the first democratically elected Government in the history of Maldives. 365 days of rebuilding the nation. 365 days of rehabilitation. 365 days of hope and 365 days of democracy machine put to action.

During these 365 days we have witnessed the formation of several public/private and public companies to deliver on the promises of our struggle. We have seen major projects rolled out and we have appointed new heads to almost all government and public companies.

But, after 30 years of the plaque of corruption, are we sure that we will not see a new strand of the plaque once again. We are witnessing a trend emerging and if the current institutions do not keep a closer eye on the events unfolding before their eyes, we might as well sink into a deeper corruption hole than the previous regime. The trend that we are seeing today includes.

- Owners of major businesses are appointed as Chairman's, CEO's and Board Directors. - Mega projects being controlled by proxy companies

- Associations and NGO's manipulating financial documents to obtain government funding

- Managing Directors favoring the businesses of their brothers and finding ways and means to disqualify others.

These are just few very basic symptoms of the plaque that we lived on almost all of our adult life. Unless we, as the people who went onto the streets try and stop this we will see the whole system falling into chaos once again.

So let us all join hands and voice every event and incident that can or will lead to corruption.

Happy 1st Anniversary to Democracy.

Wataniya - Life's NOT good for the contractors

2009-09-03T00:15:00.000-07:00

Wataniya Telecom, a Middle Eastern telecom giant came into Maldives in 2005. When the contract was awarded a lot of Maldivian small businesses rushed to them to find work. As finding work on most of the islands is pretty hard and work is scarce, all across Maldives contractors were busy erecting towers, digging and doing construction for Wataniya Telecom so they would not miss the deadline, which was pretty ridiculous, and escape Government fines.

We have recently come to know that Wataniya or the the main contractor Fastcomms owes these contractor millions of rufiyaa and this has been in the Courts of Maldives for the entire life of Wataniya operational in Maldives. So we investigated and this is what a contractor “Ahmed” who hasn’t been paid for over 3 years has to say.

“When we heard the news that Wataniya was awarded the contract to become the second mobile operator we felt very happy as we can raise funds for our youth clubs and other activities by working as subcontractors for Wataniya. When we first went to Wataniya we were shown the main contractor Fastcomms. So as instructed by Wataniya we worked for Fastcomms”.

Who is this Fastcomms. Fastcomms is a Maldivian firm who won the contract to supply and roll out Wataniya network.

“When we didn’t get paid for over six months we filed the case against Fastcomms. But later we found out that Wataniya did not pay Fastcomms so we started to work with Fastcomms to file the case against Wataniya.”

“This case has dragged too long. Maybe because Wataniya’s Lawyer Dheena Hussain is related to the former first Lady. That is what I think. . Even the son in law of Maumoon works with Dheena .”

“But now the court has ruled that Wataniya has to give the money to Fastcomms and we will get paid then. To date Wataniya has not paid Fastcomms, even after the court ruling. So we have obtained a copy of the verdict and we want this to go to all newspapers. People should know what kind of people Wataniya is”

“I wish in this country we can file for damages. Our families have suffered because of that. Our business went bankrupt. In other countries I can file for damages”.

“We have worked with Dhiraagu during their tower project and they always pay on time. Government should not let foreign companies destroy our lives.”

“So today we have decided that we will give this verdict copy to media and tell all Maldivians what kind of a company Wataniya is”.

MDP Celebrates Mustafa win.

2009-07-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Mohamed Mustafa’s victory in the re-vote in Thimarafushi spells the end of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s influence over the nation, speakers at a rally last night said.

At the by-election on Saturday, Mustafa beat the former president’s son, Mohamed Gassan Maumoon, by 50 votes.

Mustafa was sworn in this morning by Supreme Court Justice Abdullah Arif at parliament before today’s sitting.

Speaking at the rally, “Reeko” Moosa Manik, MDP parliamentary group leader, said some people had not realised the government had changed.

“Some people in the civil service and those close to Maumoon have not woken up yet, but you have done it for them very well,” he said.

The rally in Thimarafushi was attended by President Mohamed Nasheed as well as MDP MPs.

Earlier in the day, the MDP entourage was greeted by a rapturous crowd of islanders.

“All the ecstasy means a lot. It shows that we're still maintaining our grass roots support; that we've not really gone away from them,” said MP and MDP Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi.

Mariya said MDP had been effective in parliament with 25 MPs, but will be “even louder now”.

At the rally, she said Mustafa’s win was the “second golden seat” for the party, with the presidency being the first.

MDP parliamentary group leader Moosa Manik said more MPs would be joining the party now.

“I think I will be majority leader in parliament soon,” he said. “Three are willing to join. One has signed, but we haven't officially announced it yet.”

MP “Colonel” Mohamed Nasheed added at the rally that many MPs of the opposition parties were having discussions to join MDP.

Young MPs of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party-People’s Alliance coalition had been asked to resign to make way for Gassan, he said.

In his speech, Mustafa spoke of the development projects planned for the island, including an airport, a yacht marina and a city hotel.

"I have pledged to find ways for you to stay with your families and work in the island," he said.

Mustafa said Thimarafushi islanders had suffered injustices under the previous government, describing Gayoom as the “most brutal leader in the past hundred years”.

Ahead of the 1994 parliamentary elections, 46 people were arrested from Thimarafushi.

Monopoly Roadrace ends

2009-07-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

Dhiraagu, the largest telecom monopoly in Maldives, has successfully held its annul Broadband Road Race on Friday.

The event, organized by Dhiraagu in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Maldives (AAM), was held on Boduthakurufaanu Magu, starting off and ending at the Artificial Beach.
Dhiraagu’s annual Broadband Race held under four categories, professionals, Amateur, under 40 years groups, Amateur, above 40 years group and team events. Some 600 competitors took part in the event held in a very festive atmosphere.

The top prize in team event category was won by Team Sifa from Maldives Defense Force. In Amateur, above 40 years, female group, Aminath Nasiha won the top prize and in male group the top prize went to Ahmed Munthaz Moosa. In the Amateur group, under 40 years, top prize among female group went to Nazeera Abdul Raheem and in male group of the same category; the top prize went to Nashid Ali.

Cash prizes were awarded to winners and runners up of all categories. Top prize under professional category was awarded Rf. 8,000 while the runner up received Rf.6, 000. Top prizes of the Amateur category, both above 40 years and under 40 years, were awarded rf.5, 000 and runner up in this category was awarded Rf.4, 000. Rf. 10,000 was presented to winners of the team event category.

Further participant and the oldest participant were also given prizes. Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race was first held in 2007, to raise awareness of the speed, quality and benefits of Dhiraagu’s ADSL broadband service. Following the success of the initial race, the Dhiraagu Broadband Road Race has become an event on its own, and this is the third successive year the race was held. The main objective of the race is to promote healthier and active lifestyles in the community, Dhiraagu has said.

As Dhiraagu keeps on gaining more avenues to monopolize the industry the people of Maldives is still waiting for the day when the technology will eventually come to the promised "Aiy Foaraa Fashah". We will not see this light until the government can have an independant body as Regulator OR the Government stops doing business and sell all its shares in Dhiraagu and open up the market for more competition.

It was only last month that we saw Dhiraagu being awarded the Government Network of Maldives (GNM). This comes as a huge blow to the IT community who were looking forward to having an alternative connectivity option that can be affordable "Aiy Foaraa Fashugai"

MTDC has been banned! well almost.

2009-07-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Source: Minivannews

Religious conservative Adaalath party’s president appealed public not to buy shares from MTDC (Maldives Tourism Development Corporation) stating the company’s engagement in haram (prohibited in Islam) businesses such as sale of alcohol and pork as well as bank interest.

MTDC – the governments’ flagship public tourism company – started selling 688,123 shares on Monday, at a rate of US$ 13 per share, with a face value of US$8 and a premium value of US$5.

Speaking to Minivan News, Sheikh Hussein Rasheed Ahmed said there would not be any “excuse” when following Islam, saying the Maldives can also be promoted without alcohol and pork.

“Not only MTDC,” said the scholar, “All the resort investors are earning prohibited money.”

At present, MTDC owns and sub-leases nine resort islands, where 55 percent of the company shares are from public, and 45 percent are owned by the government.

Mohamed Mihad, MTDC managing director said Adaalath’s president’s remarks are politically motivated; adding he does not believe it is haram to buy shares from MTDC.

Adaalath is a party which promotes Islamic Sharia and principles.

Further, Mihad said the remarks of Sheikh Hussein would not affect their share market, adding the company decided to sell shares after the board of directors learned the allocated shares for the public is lower than 55 per cent.

“If the shares are sold at the existing speed,” he said, “we hope all the shares will be sold before the deadline.”

The deadline is on 18 August.

MTDC expects to raise over US$1 million from shares to develop a 100 bed resort in Alifu Alifu atoll Uligam.

Speaking about tourism without alcohol and pork, Sheikh Hussein said there are some countries, including Iran and some states of India, which have tourism without haram businesses.

Business Tycoon, Abdulla Jabir, who owns five resorts in the Maldives, said it was difficult to accept religious comments of Sheikh Hussein as sincere because he was a politician.

Jabir did not wish to comment on the whether the tourism industry can survive without alcohol and pork.

The issue of alcohol and pork surfaced after the minister of Islamic affairs Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari, who also belongs to Adaalath, said government revenue from import duties on alcohol and pork was haram.

During the debate last month on a bill proposed by the government to reduce and eliminate import duties, some MPs called for increasing import duties for alcohol and pork.

But, the economic affairs committee of parliament, which is currently reviewing the bill, decided against the increase yesterday.

Dr. Majeed intended to sell Pork and Alcohol in 2005

2009-07-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe’), Dhivehi Observer, 05 April 2005

Scroll Down to the text in red

Winners of the 11 new resorts tendered last year was announced today but the basic mood amongst the bidders is that of disappointment and utter waste of time and money. As anticipated they were awarded to the same parties which scored the highest points in the controversial markings done by Ismail Firag�s �Angels� belonging to the unknown American firm who completed the evaluation is world record time. Tourism Minister Dr Luthfee said that the islands would be finally awarded to parties after thoroughly checking whether one party or company gets more than one resort. However, Ismail Firag (who allegedly gets a 5% of Sunland Pvt Ltd�s profits and VIP treatment and free booze from all their resort) has ensured that Sunland got 3 resorts even this time. N. Maavelaavaru, Th. Kalhufahalafushi and Ga. Funamaudua have been awarded to Sunland. Some say they secured a 4th one through a made up company. This brings the number of resorts owned/operated by Sunland Pvt Ltd to 9 or 10 now. In 1997 Sunland was awarded 3 islands out of which they only managed to build only one and had to dispose off the other two for relatively small cash payments. This time, AAA Company also secured more than one resort in the names of their directors but the good thing is they can afford to build and develop and operate their own resorts and not sell them to tycoons.
In Maldives, the economic wealth and power is in the hands of less than 3% of the population, which comprises of Gayyoom�s family, friends and close associates. This is believed to be another world record for Maldives. In a democratic society, income distribution has to be equitable, the cumulative share of income would be equal to the cumulative population share. As Adam Smith said, you can never achieve perfect distribution but it is important to work toward that. It is a fact that the lesser the income disparity, the healthier the economy and the more prosperous people are. For example, In America (USA) (which is by far the largest economy and the richest country in the world) more than 99.6% of the country�s wealth is controlled by more than 90% of the population which has ensured that they are by far the world�s most prosperous and richest nation in the world with nearly US$ 30,000 GDP per capita with a population of nearly 300 million. Hence, it would have been much wiser and better for the economy as well as less risky if these new resorts had been awarded to 11 new parties, who do not have any resorts but could benefit enormously from owning and managing a resort, such as the prominent travel agents in Maldives, like Sea N See, Skorpion Travel, Capital Travel & Tours and Inner Maldives, just to mention a few. Sadly, Gayyoom knows bugger all about economics and hasn�t got a clue of the definition of economy of scale.
Maumoon is unlikely to change his decisions but let us at least hope that the resort owners have the courage to demand for a reduction of rent based on the current change in the demand for Maldives as a result of the December '04 tsunami. Surely, Maldives is no longer the ultimate worry free holiday destination in the world and according to confirmed reports from resort operators, they have seen a totally different trend of business than it was before the tsunami and the threat of another tsunami at any given time will undoubtedly be detrimental to the tourism industry. Once again, sadly, Gayyoom has no idea what global economy means or rather what macro-economics is.
Tourism Ministry which calculates rents for the current existing resorts has a policy of charging high rents to those resorts which are closer to Male International Airport and the lower to those which are further away. The further away it is, the lower the rent is calculated perhaps makes economic sense. Those who have been granted resorts at rents of USD7,250 to Maldivian Bangalhi price Shuaib for Hdh.Dhonakulhi and USD7,000 taken by Abdul Rauf (M.Snowrose) for Lh. Hudhufushi, are both still not in operation. Abdul Rauf was given a 50% write-off for the rent he owed to the government till December of 2004 because his daughter is married to Prince Faris, Son of King Gayyoom and similar favours rendered to Shuaib because he is married to Prince Dunya, daughter of Gayyoom who is Gayyoom�s favourite to succeed him to the throne.
Only a few will benefit from this deal, Gayyoom and his cronies like Ismail Firag. Winner of these resorts are not the richest people in Maldives but will in deed file for bankruptcy unless a more democratic government is installed who will review their rents in accordance with international and global market trends and based on macro-economics.

The 'Unlucky' Winners are:

SH. ALIDHOO

Awarded to Tranquility Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ahmed Saleem(H. Fashan) and Zuleyha Mohamed of the same house for an average rent of USD11,080 per bed over the next 10 years

HDH. HONDAAFUSHI

Awarded to Mr Abdulla Ali (H.Giritherege), the main shareholder of AAA company which already operates 4 resorts for an average rent of USD27,777 over the next 10 years

SH DHOLHIYADHOO

Awarded to Mr Mohmed Latheef (H Baraboamaage) for an average rent of USD17,950 per bed over the next 10 years

N RANDHELI

Awarded to the late Mohamed Zahid (Six-X Zahid) of M. Vaadheege (Maumoon�s relative) for an average rent of USD18,125 per bed over the next 10 years

N MAAVELAVARU

Awarded to Big Island Resorts Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Husnu Al Suood (Husband of Sunland shareholder�s sister) of Ma. Uraha, Dr Abdullah Zahir (again another husband of Sunland shareholder�s sister) of Ma. Uraha and Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Baaree (Sunland Shareholder) of H. Lantan for an average rent of USD21,550 per bed over the next 10 years

TH. KALHUFAHALAFUSHI

Awarded Mr. Shabeer Ahmed (H. Millennia), the largest shareholder of Sunland Pvt Ltd for an average rent of USD26,758 per bed over the next 10 years

L. OLHUVELI

Awarded to Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Didi (Neeravali, Gn. Fuahmulah / c/o: G. Veyla) for an average rent of USD16,649.8 per bed over the next 10 years

GA. FUNAMAUDUA

Awarded to Dhekunu Dhuni Investments Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Aishath Lululina (Daughter of Sunland shareholder Mr Nazeer of H. Gadhage Hulhangubai, Mohamed Muzuny (Ma. Thabagge�) and Mohamed Nazeer (Sunland Shareholder) of H. Lantan for an average rent of USD10,350 per bed over the next 10 years

GA. HADAHAA

was awarded to Driftwood Maldives Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ashraf Ali, Arshad Ali, Asad Ali and Shaaheena Ali, all from M. Vaareyvilla for an average rent of USD10,300 per bed over the next 10 years

GDH. KONOTTA

Awarded to Crystal Lagoon Resorts Pvt Ltd whose shareholders are Ali Ahmed(S. Maradhoo, (Keeranmaage) and Mohamed Rasheed (M. Hanifaru) and Ahmed Haleem`(Ma. Naibuge�) and Abdullah Ali`(Gdh. Thinadhoo Fen Muleege) for an average rent of USD11,600 per bed over the next 10 years

GDH.LONUDHUAHUTTA

Awarded to One and Half Degree Maldives Pvt Ltd, whose shareholder are Ibrahim Naseer (M. Naseemusobaa) and Hussein Solah (G. Fithuroanuge�) for an average rent of USD12,500 per bed over the next 10 years

Source: Dhivehi Observer

NEC computers out of Asia Pacific as of July 2009

2009-07-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Asia Pacific, March 27, 2009 - NEC Computers Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd. (NECCAP) today announced its intention to withdraw from the PC markets in South and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Due to adverse worldwide economic conditions, and the PC industry's rapidly changing circumstances, NEC has determined that the Asia Pacific PC market for its business holds less potential for expansion, and the company has decided to withdraw from the Asia Pacific PC market in order to focus solely on Japan's PC market, where NEC holds a leading position.

As a result of these recent business trends, NECCAP will institute an orderly withdrawal plan which includes the cessation of any new PC offerings from July, 2009.

NEC will continue to offer ongoing support to existing customers and to honor its warranty and extended support agreements through its network of authorised service providers.

Source: www.nec.com

So do we block Minivannews for this?

2009-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Anyone who owns an Airtel TV package is an Infidel

2009-07-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

The recent announcement from Ministry of Islamic Affairs came as a shock. What Adaalath is preaching is basically brainwashing every human being in Maldives to have only the knowledge of what they preach. Islam asks mankind to do research, learn the difference between different faiths and do your own judgement. And Islam challenges that if all the faiths are weighted surely one would turn to Islam.

So, is Adaalath right on banning Airtel in Maldives. Do they have the right when Islam asks us all to do our research? I don’t think so.

And the one thing I didn’t understand is instead of asking Airtel to remove that channel from all the decoders that as imported to Maldives they ban the entire thing (rumors say that Mesco pays huge sums to Customs officials to record the decoder numbers and card numbers). This doesn’t look like the work of a religious person as I can smell corruption here. Mesco and Bnet is behind this and I suspect money would have been exchanged in playing religion so Mesco and Bnet can still enjoy their hefty margins and squeeze the Maldivian public.

So I believe all Customs Officials who note down the decoder numbers and the Islamic Ministry needs to be investigated for corruption.

This really needs to be investigated.

Other than the issue of GOD TV there is no way Airtel can be banned in Maldives and Mesco Ahmed has been trying all means to ban Airtel..

I let readers be the judge.

The next thing you will hear is that this blog has been blocked… reason: for religious harmony or whatever….

Gayoom to sue for damages - What great Lawyers he has

2009-07-06T02:09:00.000-07:00

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has decided to bring criminal charges against Hassan Afeef, political advisor at the president's office and former MP, reports Haveeru.
Afeef was found guilty of defamation last week. With defamation still a criminal offence in the penal code, Gayoom told Haveeru, his lawyers had advised him to file charges.
"The civil court ruling is very strong evidence. It would have to go through a police investigation and then to the prosecutor general's office," he said.
The civil court ruled that the evidence presented at court established that Afeef claimed at a rally on 19 September 2008 that Gayoom embezzled US$80 million dollars of tsunami aid.
Gayoom said he will decide on the amount of damages to seek as he believes Afeef's allegations cost him last year's presidential election.

source: minivannews

The Six Drug lords

2009-06-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

Four years and years we have faced with the growing concern of drug abuse in the Maldives. Under the rule of the so called notorious dictator Gayoom and his chief torturer Adam Zahir there was wide spread accusations that the state is behind the huge imports of narcotics into the Maldives.

It is with great expectations of the people that the old guard was got ridden of and the new government was put in place. One was to stop the inflow of narcotics and to establish mechanisms that will enable the arrest and prosecution of the drug lords of Maldives.

During the run up to the last parliamentary elections we heard about six drug lords of whom the Police had ample evidence to prosecute them. The reasons, as stated by the President himself was that the current Administration do not wish to influence the elections as some among the six well know drug lords to this administration was some who were running for the parliament. The President also stressed that just after the elections these drug lords will be arrested.

There was wide spread speculations that among the aforesaid six there will definitely be Gayoom’s brother Yaamin. And several others were finger pointed at.

So, a month after the elections, where are these six drug lords. They are still taking lives of so many youth in Maldives. A lot of parents are still left out to grieve. We still live in constant fear of gang violence that the Police relate to drug dealings and drug abuse.

I believe it is time to the President to speed up this operation and arrest those responsible for the inflow of narcotics into the country. Or like Gayoom is Nasheed’s hands tied as well. We are yet to find out.

Comment and Analysis: Shelter in the "Other Maldives"

2009-06-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Since my childhood, my siblings and I have been living like refugees. We've been continuously moving from one room to another for shelter. That’s not because we’re real refugees, but because my father refuses to let us into our home.

For the past 14 years, my two sisters, two brothers and I have rented different places from north to south and east to west Male', even though we are Male’ citizens. There wasn't much to distinguish us from immigrant islanders. The only difference was that they’re registered in the registry of Male’ municipality, and we’re registered in my father’s house, G.Shady Ground, which he inherited from our grandfather.

Unfortunately, before giving us any chance to live in it, my father sold our house in two parts. One half was sold in the earlier Maldives, before the 2008 presidential elections, and the second half was sold in the "Other Maldives”.

When we got the news that the second half of our house was sold, we immediately filed the case at High Court. We were very confident that we would win the case for three reasons.
The first reason was that when my father sold our house, he had a minor and two unmarried girls to look after. Under the law, children under the age of 18, as well as unmarried girls, have to be provided with property. Secondly, he sold our house, by giving a false statement to the civil court. For example, he said that his family (including us) was living in Sri Lanka, which wasn’t true. Lastly, he sold our house, even though he had a mortgage for it from the Bank of Maldives.
All of these were in breach of the Land Act, but shockingly, the civil court failed to address the above issues before the verdict.

Before the High Court case, the civil court had declared that my father had legally sold the house. But during our High Court hearings, the court sent a letter suspending the civil court ruling, until the verdict had been announced. During this time, the house still belonged to my father.

Although we had the legal right to move back into our half of the house, the buyer's family did not move out. After holding two protests, demanding to get our house back, my siblings and I were finally able to move into my father’s place. We were sharing a single bedroom from my father’s part of the house, while the rest was occupied by the buyer’s children.
For more than two weeks police were looking after the security, as per request of the buyer.
One night, a team of police arrived at our house, demanding us to leave the place. We responded, saying if we had to leave the room, the buyer should also clear the rest of the rooms, which were on my father’s side. But the police team refused to communicate with us, claiming that the decision was made under a court-issued warrant.

When we refused, dozens of star force police came, and arrested me, my sisters and brother. We were handcuffed behind our backs and taken to Atholhuvehi custodial at around 2am. We were made sit in chairs, handcuffed, facing a wall until early morning.
We were told that there hadn't been a court order for our arrest, but only a command of a “superior person”. After the call for morning Azaan, my eldest sister was released, while the rest of us remained detained. Instead of the morning breakfast, we were welcomed with a special investigation.

Separately, at first, my elder brother was made to fully undress, and then I was as well. Later, both of us were taken to a cell. My youngest sister too was forced to undress. They made her stand up and sit down while naked three times as a punishment. We have since been told that her treatment was highly irregular and have filed a case with the Human Rights Commission Maldives.

In the afternoon, my brother and I were served lunch. We refused to eat it, knowing that my younger sister wouldn’t eat anything, believing that we were hungry. And indeed this was what happened. When we met up with her again, she said she had refused to eat, because she thought that we hadn't been fed.

I never dreamed that I would have to experience such cruel and inhumane things in the "Other Maldives”, but unfortunately, my siblings and I were one of the early victims.

In the afternoon, we were released. Frustration and anger didn’t make us give up. We protested outside the civil court, demanding our rights. Days later, High Court made a ruling in our favour, but once gain the police refused to let us into the house. Instead, the buyer continued living there without adhering to the High Court verdict.

In order to adhere to the High Court ruling, we presented this case to civil court. Before any of the hearings, once again my father presented a case to the civil court to sell the same house to the same buyer.

We had also brought my father’s case to the police, asking for an investigation into providing false details to civil court, when selling our home. Yet it seemed that still the case wasn't considered a big deal.

These things remind me of a quotation from Mother Teresa, which gives us the strength to fight for our rights.

“Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection.”

Article: Minivannews

Biggest IT con artist has been sacked

2009-06-10T03:22:00.000-07:00

During the late 90's a chap who used to work for Dhiraagu went from enterprise to enterprise convincing the management that the future of their business is through Information Technology. He was the one who introduced the idea of going to a more IT friendly approach and hence creating a wealth of his own through sale of computers in the name of "Information Technology" at prices twice as high as buying a better configuration from nearby Singapore.

During the millenium bug hype, his company sold, on average, 500-600 computers at markups not less than $1000 each. The entire government and the corporates were entagled in this hype that his company made a huge fortune.

The next step to him was networking. He has implemented networks at resorts the did not work even on the first day. His policy for partnerships did not bear fruit as his approach for a partnership was more based on "I want it all".

Then came the internet age. Through his not so good guidance and technology knowhow, he led a licensed service provider to its doom. From low level technologies and equipment to false promises to major customers to whom he delivers less than half of the solution promised.

The fate of him should and did end as the community anticipated. He has been sacked form the post of Managing Director of his own company. Though we would like to wish him luck, it is high time everyone learned that he should better find another profession.

Law can be a good alternative...

The Abdulla Kamaaluddeen Example

2009-06-08T11:48:00.001-07:00

People Say - Kamaaluddeen Go Home...

Maumoon Says - Kamaaluddeen come as Minister...

MDP Says - When People reject, no place in government... So Dictatorship...

People Say - Unimaage' Adhil Go Home...

Anni Says - Unimaage' Adhil come as State Minister...

DRP Says - ???????????????

Cognitive dissonance

2009-06-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

How did people who stood in line to vote for a dictator rationalise their decision? It remains a mystery to me. But a blog post, riddled with contradictions, by former legal reform minister Mohamed Nasheed threw up some interesting clues.

“MDP [Maldivian Democratic Party] must be recognised for the creative thinking behind its propaganda. They were able to convince a great deal of Maldivians that democracy and freedom as available in the western world today should have been available in the Maldives all the way through the past thirty years,” Nasheed writes (Italics mine).

Nasheed dismisses out of hand that his former master Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was a despot responsible for human rights abuses, wanton corruption, and nepotism. Not to mention, 30 years of undemocratic misrule and curtailment of basic rights.

Tracing the history of the democracy movement, which forced Gayoom to enact a sweeping agenda for democratic reform, Nasheed implies that its demands for freedom of expression, an independent judiciary and separation of powers were unwarranted and unreasonable, arguing that the MDP “distorted” the truth to serve its purposes.

Strangely, Nasheed then acknowledges, and even commends, the success of MDP’s “anti-Gayoom rhetoric”, but goes on to state that the public perception of a dictatorship it fostered was not based on reality.

But, just as he conveniently omits any mention of torture and arbitrary arrest of activists, he does not offer any explanation as to why so many people accepted MDP’s message of liberation from the clutches of a tyrant. But it begs the question, why did it resonate so deeply and “sink into the psyche of the Maldivian people” if it was so wildly exaggerated?

Ultimately, his argument boils down to a patently absurd narrative: a bunch of restless rabble-rousers misled a sleepy populace to rise up against a benevolent ruler who brought progress and prosperity to the nation.

The Maldives during Gayoom’s reign might not have been apartheid-era South Africa, but it is still disingenuous to deny that gross injustices took place. It did not happen that long ago either.

In his blog post, Nasheed further implies that Maldivians were not overly concerned with democracy before MDP came on the scene. As a result of the opposition’s efforts, he says, inalienable rights became important “almost overnight”.

“Equality before the law, fair share in economy, equitable distribution of wealth, rule of law, fundamental rights, democracy, freedom and many more similar phrases became household expressions. All of a sudden, everybody was conversant in the language of democracy,” he writes.

It is a common diversionary tactic to ascribe these universal values to the West as if to say social justice does not matter to people east of the Suez Canal.

Moreover, apologists for the former regime excuse police brutality and mass incarceration by saying the old illiberal constitution entitled the president to take such measures. Yet these same people now self-righteously extol the virtues of the democratic principles enshrined in the new constitution.

According to that logic, morality is derived from laws written on a parchment and changed radically on 7 August 2008, when the constitution was ratified.

Ironically, although they did not believe it was necessary for 27 years, Gayoom and his party now claim credit for introducing democracy by pointing to a “successful” reform agenda. I am willing to concede that it was indeed successful. It was so successful Gayoom ended up losing his job.

Article by Ahmed Naish on www.minivannews.com

Making a mockery of democracy

2009-05-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

The promise of hope

The work and ideals and the plight of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is admirable to say the least. As an opposition party, it was a monumental force in this country’s fight for change. Despite the lack of democratic guarantees, the vigour and presence of MDP resembled those in South Korea and Pinochet’s Chile, which were directly effective in the country’s governance before democracy was even realised.

In the lead up to the second round of the Presidential elections, in particular the last rally of the then opposition parties, a huge crowd gathered united under flying flags of yellow. Presidential candidate Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed spoke with rare charisma and people felt euphoric and elated.

The entire crowd watching, in their hearts anticipation and a certain sense of trepidation as all hope was invested in this man, who would lead the country to better days. As the rally came to a close, the rain began to pour just as the final blessing was made; everyone put their hands together praying for the future of this country, a move for change.

As the dawn broke on the morning on 29 October 2009, the Maldives broke the rule of a 30 year reign. At ‘raalhugandu’ people from all walks of life gathered together, hugging and crying in jubilation. Anni who had been the symbol, the personification of the democratic movement in this county had been voted our president.

As the days progressed there was a sense of peace in the air, a quiet calm that descended in the country. We all watched as Nasheed gracefully took over from Gayoom who conceded defeat. Nasheed urged everyone to be humble in victory, and so many were proud that the other Maldives had emerged. A country where democracy would begin to flourish, where justice was no longer a vision, rights inviolable and a society free from fear, free from oppression and free from want.

He made us believe that hope was real, emerging from a country whose past filled with darkness and despair, Anni was our hope for the future, and that the democratic ideals of this nation will be fulfilled. The hope of legitimacy and governance that is interested in the everyday interactions of the people.

How did these hopes and aspirations come to be replaced by disillusionment and persistent cynicism towards a government that symbolised so much?

The slippery slope

Just as it is important to emphasise democracy it is also crucial to safeguard the conditions and circumstances that ensure the range and reach of the democratic process. Valuable as democracy is as a major source of social opportunity there is also the need to examine the ways and means of making it function well, to realise its potentials. It is not whether liberty exists that is important, but how it is exercised.

The operation of the institutions of the state depends on a number of factors. However, one that is of the utmost importance is the legal framework in which political decisions are made; namely the constitution. The development of a democratically accountable and responsible government is enshrined under the structure and principles of the constitution ratified last year.

This government should be focused on preserving the sanctity of the new constitution and using it as a source of legitimacy, not deviate from its principles and adopting narrow interpretations to serve their own means as practice is now sadly indicating.

The Presidential Commission to Investigate Embezzlement is a perfect example of this government wavering from its democratic ideals, and heading down a very slippery slope. Firstly the commission is founded on very shaky and narrow legal justifications. Any half-wit interpretation of Article 115 of the constitution will corroborate that the broad powers granted to the commission are not actually justifiable under it.

The majority members of the commission sport yellow and are vehemently loyal to the president, which further goes to undermine the credibility of the commission and shows that its not transparent nor accountable to anyone but the government. It doesn’t serve the people justice, but is only self-serving for an MDP cause. What is perhaps most frightening is when asked why the commission was set up, the government argues, that it was necessary because the independent institutions are only fledgling and currently ineffective, and so far have not taken up any action with regard to the auditor general's reports.

Just because independent institutions that have the sole mandate of investigating corruption in this country are not effective, is no reason to take to take the law unto yourselves, so to speak. Instead the government should be trying to lobby the independent institutions, financing them to make them more effective and trying to ensure that these independent institutions are strengthened. Otherwise, what is the point of having any independent institutions at all? Why not get rid of them all, and instead leave it up to the executive to execute so-called justice?

The constitution should never be disregarded when political decisions are made especially those related to policy decisions impacting on the people. The decentralisation process taking place is an obvious example of this. The process is mandated for under the constitution which outlines the administrative provinces in its annex, and even more unambiguously states that the process should take place once legislation providing for decentralisation has been passed. However, this government chose to ignore these fundamentals and carried on with the process appointing home ministers, creating new administrative regions not accorded for and all without the legitimacy of an Act.

The intrinsic relevance, the protective role and the constructive importance of democracy can indeed be very extensive. Inadequacy of practice applies also to some failings in even the most mature of democracies and in a country like the Maldives that is only nascent in its consolidation of democracy, inadequacy of practice sets dangerous grounds for us to move backwards and not forwards.

The consensus which many supporters of reform and change in this country were seeking was a change from confrontation and the ‘top down’ approach to one of conciliation. Most importantly, a relationship of trust between politicians and voters and of good political decision-making in a democratic society.

Perhaps President Nasheed has forgotten that it should be the aspiration of this government that democracy and its ideals should be realised for all Maldivians and not just MDP. It was with that vested hope that the country elected him president, and it is without wonder that so many are now disillusioned with the practices of the government so far.

Of discontent and dissent

Despite all the rhetoric about how this government is a coalition, it seems that high-ranking members of the coalition who disagree with the president and the ruling party are now slowly but surely being shown the door. Or so disillusioned with the practices of the government they have resigned and left.

The practice of democracy in a coalition government, consensual politics implies that politicians, particularly those from different political parties, seek to reach agreement by accommodating each others’ differences. These ministers had to voice out their opinions, perhaps because professional advice they were giving was not listened to by the ruling party. They then became disgruntled and resorted to expressing their opinions to the media, to inform the public.

The first to go, Gasim Ibrahim, the home minister, only after 22 days in office in an unexpected move after police actions on the rioting resorts. Upon resigning from cabinet he expressed criticisms over the government’s privatisation plans. It’s not the biggest secret, that there are many in the MDP that mock Gasim’s political abilities and from the beginning did not show him the loyalty and respect he deserved, therefore conclusive that perhaps he felt marginalised in cabinet.

Next was Dr Hassan Saeed, elevated to the post of advisor to the president, resigned on the hundredth day of the government. Perhaps Saeed was not so wise to leak confidential advice he gave to the president to the media. However, suppose that it was the only choice he had because his advice had not been listened to? It must have been quite frustrating to give sound advice and not have it listened to, and MDP loyalists painting the picture that Saeed was a man still bitter about losing the presidential elections.

If he was so bitter about losing in the first round of the presidential elections, why would he have rallied so much support for President Nasheed towards to second round? Hassan Saeed’s resignation only confirmed to the public, what they already knew. That he was only appointed to the post as a posturing of a democratic coalition, but the reality was that he too was sidelined and dismissed.

Most recently, fervently the door was shown to Dhiyana Saeed as the attorney general, whose fault again was using the medium of the media to express her legal dissent compromising collective cabinet responsibility. However, her legal opinions stand with merit and clout among the populous. As the attorney general who has a responsibility to the people to uphold the constitution, it is without wonder she got frustrated when the president ignored her advice and asked instead to sideline legality to get things done. Upon her resignation Dhiyana spoke openly of how she felt criticised and blatantly ridiculed even in cabinet meetings and by members of the ruling MDP.

It is the duty of this government to ensure that the new constitution is executed well, and policy is implemented according to the rule of law. But instead, they dismiss the attorney general (assign Ali Hashim, party loyalist as the acting attorney general when there are several lawyers in Cabinet) and speak of downsizing the attorney general’s office (AGO), mandated under the constitution for upholding the rule of law.

Perhaps it might be easier for MDP to rubberstamp their policies whilst flouting legality if there was no AGO, however it certainly sets a very dangerous precedent, and is the wrong way forward for fragile democracy with a frail judiciary.

The only non-MDP ministers who are tolerated in cabinet so far is Dr Ali Sawad, minister of tourism, arts and culture; Dr Hassan Latheef, minister of human resources, youth and sports; and Dr Mustafa Luthfy, minister of education, seemingly docile personalities who have not said anything controversial and are so far behaving without ruffling any feathers.

Rumours have it that the Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication Dr Jameel will follow in Dhiyana’s footsteps as a result of his very vocal criticisms of the ruling party during the parliamentary election campaign. Next will come Dr Shaheed, although the attempts to vilify his reputation during the whole Kosovo fiasco, including presidential orders that the police investigate the allegations of corruption, proved unsuccessful.

It begs the question would the president have been so quick to investigate had it been cabinet members of his own party? Nonetheless Shaheed will probably stay as he not only survived but came out on top after attempts of tainting during the Kosovo allegations. He is also an invaluable asset to the government as foreign minister, respected by the international community and as one of the shrewdest politicians in this country it is better to keep him in cabinet rather that as a vocal opponent.

At the end of the day when only around 20 per cent of the country voted for MDP, how democratic is a cabinet that is only reflective of a minority voice just because the president wants only people who he is not afraid of, who will not say ‘no’ to him. Loyalty and collective cabinet responsibility is certainly important, however, they say that the most solid relationships are built from friends who are not afraid to criticise you. Blind loyalty is certainly not what this government needs right now.

Even during the parliamentary elections the MDP campaigned with a certain air of arrogance. They lost because they were so sure they were going to win. They talked about what hadn’t been achieved in the past thirty years of dictatorship instead of focusing on what was achieved in eight months of democracy. Instead of talking about moving the country forward instead of focusing on how the government was going to provide better healthcare or affordable housing they talked about how one of their first agenda’s to put before parliament would be how to bring the actions of the former regime to justice. An eye for an eye, as they say will only lead to blindness.

As the numbers from the constituencies came in, state ministers (one of whom was even jailed overnight as a result of nuisance) led mass demonstrations outside the headquarters of the Elections Commission, yelled at the police, and blamed the media for what went wrong. They could not look beyond the arrogance that because they were the ruling party, defeat in the parliamentary elections was even a possibility.

Even more telling are the actions of MDP loyalists and candidates who tried to sabotage other party candidates’ campaigns. Perhaps they forgot that they were no longer the grassroot activists yelling on the streets for change, or forgot that they were the ruling party and a government with a responsibility or to act with more decorum that is expected of them by the public. Especially after their display during the parliamentary elections, MDP can never again take any moral high ground when foul play is alleged, because instead of upholding the democratic process, they played a major role in trying to stifle and defy it.

It seemed at times their demeanour during the parliamentary elections, carried an air of desperation, intimidation and a slight whiff of what the former dictatorial regime used to do, when they knew they were about to lose at something. The MDP now moves fashioning a set of very large blinkers.

The heartbeat of democracy

Perhaps President Nasheed needs to revisit the days leading up to the second round of the presidential elections, and remember the Grand Patriotic Coalition. That it was the effort of the leaders of all the parties that got him elected and for that he needs to do them due justice, and remember Wathan Edhey Gothah, as the people will.

Perhaps what this government needs to understand is that conflict over public interest should be accepted and indeed welcomed as an inevitable part of a democratic society. In such a society political decision making must be based on the principle of genuine consultation, the need to engage in discussion among different points of view, and on pragmatic practice of reaching compromises amid conflicting goals and values.

If the ruling MDP continues to use its new power for self-serving means and ends, they are making a mockery of what democracy is along with everything that they and the people of this country have fought so hard for and avowed against. It is time that the MDP revisit their values and promises that they made to the people that elected them.

It can be argued that the MDP have ensured that in the Maldives ‘democracy’ now operates as part of the ideology of oppression by pretending falsely that it offers its citizens equality and freedom when it does not. Whereas for so many years this country’s effects have gone towards the hope that MDP will instill a radical transformation of society which will overthrow the structure of oppression and allow people to come to understand and meet their true needs. Convicted in the belief that no other form of regime offers perfect freedom and equality so much as a liberal democracy.

If people’s trust for the government is waning only after six months after inauguration there are certainly bleaker days ahead for our tiny nation. Let us hope that Lord Acton’s aphorism (that absolute power corrupts absolutely) does not ring true once again for the Maldives.

It is certainly time to take the pulse of the nation, and to see whether the heartbeat of democracy in the Maldives, under the rule of the Maldivian Democratic Party, is still ticking.

Article by: Haseena Ibrahim. On www.minivannews.com

A small “Box Seller” receives global award for Quality? Must be the victim of a Scam

2009-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

This is exactly what I feel when a PC reseller in Maldives wins awards almost 3 consecutive years for quality. There are so many, more qualified PC distributors and resellers across the globe. Like IngramMicro or CDW or TechData. But why on earth would a plaque be awarded to a firm in Maldives for selling PCs. If it was beaches, luxury travel or fishing I can understand.

So, about a year back I did some google searching for the credibility of this so called “BID” award for Quality and Blah Blah…. And here is what I found.

http://www.bid-paris.com/en/main.php

http://www.bid-org.com/menu.htm

http://worldquality.org/en/index.php

http://bid-planet.com/conbordes_archivos/index.htm

http://www.bid-quality.com/en/index.php

http://www.bid-qualitysummit.com/en/index.php

This is loads of more websites belonging to BID so they will get you the moment you type “Business Initiative Directions” on google.

2. Now let’s look at the sponsors of BID awards and the magazines on which they publish about the awards

The Magazines:

http://www.hnova.com

http://www.brandazo.com

http://www.gperson.com/

http://www.centrexp.com/

http://www.neussner.com/

Don’t you find a little awkward that all these magazines publish only news feeds form other sources. They do not have any genuine content whatsoever. Ah… except for BID award news just to amuse you..

The Main Sponsor

http://www.imarpress.com

The website of Main Sponsor is worse. Look at that website, nothing but hyperlinks.

3. Ok… now the people who pay huge sums of money, travel to Geneva and Paris and fetch these awards.

The second type of deceit is when they use a small branch of a huge company and award them. Here is one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkfePm4HoBQ&feature=channel_page

But that is Indian Oil (Mauritius) and they don’t make a big fuss out of it. They have not even mentioned about this particular award on their website.

http://www.ioml.mu/en/news/

The third type: Who pay thousands of dollars each year to buy this award, well literally, and showcase it at their sales centre.

http://www.megachiplive.com/company/news-events/president-congratulates-megachip-maldives

And unfortunately one is a Board member of Dhiraagu and the other one is an Elected MP.

http://www.megachiplive.com/

I wrote to Megachip about a year ago explaining all what I have found out above but they never bothered. Go see the awards at Megachip showroom, Majeedi Magu

Cheers to all....

Only Maumoon can keep MDP alive

2009-05-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

Well, the header says it all! Why? The answer to it very obvious if someone put a little bit of thought to it.

As everyone of us knows that the main purpose of MDP was to get rid of Maumoon. MDP was a vehicle used by the common people who suffered 30 years of injustice, torture, corruption etc etc...

MDP, form what I feel, is not a political party but a group of people, atleast at the grassroots level, who came out to put an END to the 30 year long rule of Maumoon.

One thing that we are sure about is Maumoon and his cronies has been ousted. And they do not hold any power right now unless the ruling MDP coalition gives them the power. If there is evidence of Maumoon and his cronies of any wrong doing they can be prosecuted and MDP can bring the people, who supported MDP in the first place, justice that they all longed for.

What the MDP grassroots doesn't know is this will never happen. As I have mentioned in a previous article about keeping Maumoon in the picture for Anni's survival during the Presidential elections, Anni will keep Maumoon in the political picture for MDP's survival for atleast four years to come.

Why? The grassroots of MDP still feels that Maumoon will come to power again and they will have to suffer the ultimate consequeances. Fear, the best tool in politics is put into play by MDP. Keeping the people in fear of a 'Maumoon comeback' that will put them all behind bars and slide the country back into an age of yet another 30 years of Dictatorship.

For those who think Anni's government will prosecute, or rather the current Prosecutor General will prosecute Maumoon is very wrong. Anni and MDP will do whatever it takes to Keep Maumoon or Yaamin as the leader of the opposition inorder to keep MDP intact.

Like the 'Threat Level' indicator of the Bush government is US, we have a 'Maumoon threat level' level indicator which is currently in the RED zone. And it is all propaganda........

LollyTupp Millionaire - Coming Soon to a Theatre near you!

2009-01-27T14:46:00.000-08:00

From Rags to Riches. The Story of a Lolly Vendor who was often bullied by school kids rose to become one of the richest tycoons of Maldives.

The Story of Jabir, the self made millionaire, parliamentarian, and advocate of democracy.

Coming Soon...................

The Political Equation

2008-11-03T00:05:00.000-08:00

This article was written before the second round of elections but was not published as this might affect the decision of some voters

Since the reform movement began in 2003, the main target of the opposition has been to oust the incumbent president and start the rebuilding of this Nation from scratch. The main policy advocated by the main opposition party MDP has always been that bringing down Maumoon is the key to all political, economic and social reform in this country. Getting rid of him will smoothen everything on its own. MDP's main concept of getting rid of Maumoon is through revolution which, after several attempts has failed. Up until the run-up to the presidential elections the main modus operandi of MDP was to overthrow this regime through a revolution. The revolution that MDP longed for never happened.

Well, history is proving otherwise, we have a new constitution, we are voting for the next president and on the 28^th of October the people of this Nation will decide who our next leader will be; the incumbent, or the all time political activist of Maldives Anni.

Keeping Maumoon in the Equation

The main reason Anni let Maumoon pass the elections commission as ‘eligible to stand’ was nothing but for Anni’s own survival. If Maumoon was out of the equation, the whole concept of MDP fails. There will be no Dictator to bring down but we will be electing a new leader to re-establish our country on all fronts. Has this been the case Anni probably would not have reached a second round.

MDP and Activism

I see MDP as a political rights activist movement rather than a Political party. MDP does not belong to any political ideologies but advocates street protests, petitions and other activities that policy makers normally tend to run away form. It’s these pressures from activists that policy makers look to when fighting for the rights of the people. MDP could have been the OTPOR of Maldives and instead could have played a key role in pressuring the opposition and endorsing their candidate. Has that been done this elections could have been a landmark landslide for the opposition.

Final word

All we are left with is to try as much to unite the people who have voted against Maumoon for various reasons. It is becoming very hard for MDP and the new alliance to convince their supporters to vote for Anni. If Anni can play the right cards unity is something that can be achieved. But, given the Nature of MDP and its grass root and Anni’s past actions, I personally do not believe they have the courage to bow down to the ‘perfect’ message the public needs right now. That is ‘Unite for Reform’ instead of ‘Vote for Anni’.

In the quest to oust the dictatorship in the first round, have we not overlooked a true candidate who can unite us all? Isn’t there any candidate who can bring us all together who does not have any dirty laundry so none of the factions can point a finger at him? If there is such a candidate MDP is the biggest mistake the reform movement has ever made.

Too good to be true

2008-10-30T00:58:00.000-07:00

You know what they say. If somethime is too good to be true, it usually is. I still don't trust the outgoing regime. They will have something up their sleeve cooked up before the 11th. We will have to just wait and see.

For 30 years Maumoon and his fellows have deveiced us. On the outside they are all saints. But in the inside, the devil take them as examples.

So let us all be prepared for that little final surprise that this regime is going to throw at us.

Let's hope everything goes smoothly.

MDP attacks MDP

2008-10-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Anni supporters came out of Foari Maalan (Kua Mohodheyge ge), campaign space for Anni's 'aa husminthah, Aiy Gadha fas aharu, gondu hovaanee maumoon, vathan edhenee maumoon faiban' and stabbed own supporter... Eye witnessess were all blind as Eyecare opticals was pretty close by and all those who saw the incident were patients who were blind. The CCTV camera was a dummy just to scare Maumoon thugs so MDP can, with the Help of Adam Zahir practice their thuggery"... MDP, who owns Stelco, cut power to all cable tv operators. As the police is controlled by MDP, the Police refused to take witness statements from the blind. And DRP supporters can confirm that all that I have written here is"Simply True"... What a sorry country this is....

Vote for Change

2008-10-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I have been a firm supporter of change. It is human nature to resist change. To resist to explore the uncertain. To be afraid to spin the wheel the otherway round. But, after 30 years of injustice, suffering and torture, it has become our obligation to believe in change. Believe in positive change and change that can bring back this nation of ours back to its people.

When we think of change we want it to be perfect. With our perfect candidate as president and their manifestos implemented. What we see today is the first step towards a better change. This is just the foundation of the perfect change that we have sought for so long.

On 28th I am going to vote for the name that is not Maumoon. Even if that name belonged to a dead rabbit I am still voting for that name. Because I want change. I want to see change happen and I want to contribute to break the long rule of Maumoon that has haunted us almost all our life.

Let us all unite for change and vote for the name that is not Maumoon.

Good luck to all.

Cabinet Minister was busted for substance abuse

2008-10-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

The so called 'all muslim' government of Maldives has in it's cabinet a minister who was busted for substance abuse. I have heard that he was caught using "Ganja" during his younger days but as he is from an influencial family the news of this bust never reached the ears of ordinary Maldivians.

He used to be a respected and reasoble member of public with a vision. He was a role model for a lot of young Maldivians who admired him for his creativity and ethics. But now he is openly campaigning for Maumoon and sometimes abusing his position as a Minister.

Stand firm and we will get this regime out of office by voting for change.

Loan Star 'Flu' Nashid

2008-10-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

We have heard about Loan Star Adam Zahir for sometime now. This week we saw another Loan Star falling victim to the favors Maumoon has offered him. Why is Floo Nadhid a Loan Star?

Floo Nashid of Zero Degree Atoll received a loan close to a million rufiyaa for his Album ‘Bird in Flight’ during 2002 or 2003 which I can’t remember correctly. This money was spent on expensive recording studios in Australia and top session artists who have done recordings for the leading musicians in the world. This loan, which all of you know that Floo will never pay, has been a burden for him for some time now.

During the minivan radio days he used to produce programs and music thinking Maumoon can be brought down quickly so he can get away with his loan. But unfortunately the migration to Australia short lived. He had to return to Maldives in fear of arrest but survived by promising to serve Maumoon as long as the loan is not paid back.

Floo Nashid is well known for dishonouring his fellow musicians when it comes to paying them. This has been the case from the days of Ahmed John to Mohodhey. Floo’s 'recreational' expenditure is so high that he is unable to save any, so the ultimate price is paid by his fellow musicians.

So ‘Flu’ Nashid has ultimately decided to serve his Master.

All musicians and fans who love change should stay away from him. Do not attend his performances. Let your thoughts be heard. Let us all protest and stay home and let him perform 'Alone'

Who you should vote for for Dummies

2008-10-19T03:57:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh5Oz6nzu48

Interesting slide show

United we Stand

2008-10-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

This time is historic. Today we have seen the beginning of the end of 30 years of injustice, corruption and torture coming to an end. Today we have witnessed the beginning of tomorrow. Today we have to unite for future of us, of our children and the entire nation. So let us all come together to vote in unison, to vote out the 30 years of suffering, the torture and the enslavement of us Maldivians. Let us all unite and say no to another time of hardship and injustice.

Dear all, Tell your friends, your parents, your loved ones and the ones who love you that this is your future, your children’s future that is at stake if we elect Maumoon for another five years. And in fact it is not another five years that we are going to lose; it will be the future of our nation and the generations to come. Beg everyone you know who has been imprisoned by fear of this regime that the time has come to say NO.

Let us all unite for the future, for happier times and prosperity. Let us all unite and sing our song, that the ballot box is mightier than the bullet.

Let us all join our hands…

DO Preview's Poll results

2008-10-07T10:40:00.003-07:00

Please find on your right results of the poll that was run by DO Preview.

Eid Celebrations by the Liberals

2008-10-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

Source: http://subdreams.blogspot.com/2008/10/liberals-eid-celebration.html

The Liberal Party celebrated the Eid last Wednesday with a gig at their haruge situated north of the Olympus theatre. Although the gig was headlined by Trio, the highlights of the gig came at later stages of the night. Trio was followed by an electrifying solo performance from Mishy (Ibra's running mate Nahid's daughter) who gave the audience some great renditions including Rihanna's Umbrella, the Beatles' Let It Be and John Denver's Leaving On A Jet Plane amongst others.

Mishy's session was followed by requests from the audience for a performance from her dad, X-ray Athif, who came on stage and said that he is going to play only if it was followed by Ibra. Athif sung Elvis Presley's Good Luck Charm.

I don't think most of the crowd was expecting Ibra to walk up on stage after Athif finished his song, but that is exactly what happened next. I saw some surprised looks from the crowd as many did not know that Ibra actually used to do gigs whilst he was studying in Australia and even after coming back to Male'. Ibra covered Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight and Cliff Richards' Travelling Light.

Trio came up on stage to finish the night off with Bob Marley's Get Up, Stand Up. However at the end of this, requests started pouring in for the their definitive Chaaley which they had not performed so far that night. The lead singer did an acoustic version of the crowd pleaserChaaley, part of it he left for the audience to complete.

It was quite a memorable night. After all, who would have expected the final line up to be Trio, Mishy, X-ray Athif and Ibra?

mvelections.com hacked - Candidates names swapped

2008-10-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

Source: Maldives Politics

First of all Eid greetings to all "Lobuvethi Blog Kiyaa Meehunah".

Wanted to vote my favorite candidate and visited mvelections.com. There was a message saying "We will be back in after 30hrs". After an hour it was back to normal.

Currently Umaru is leading the poll while Maumoon sits at the bottom. This is really interesting. Yesterday Hassan Saeed was sitting at the top with some 1700 votes while Umaru had about 30 Votes.

I believe this is another Hassan Saeed Fake Poll. :)

When I visited mvelections.com today it was resoving to this ip 208.87.243.227
I did a bit of research and found the following for 208.87.243.227

Some domains hosted on this IP address.

Here are a few of them:

Bl4ck3nd.info
Hiyani.net
Mvelections.com

Hahah haaaa....

==============================
Trac route info for ip 208.87.243.227
==============================

1 3 ms 1 ms 1 ms x.x.x.x
2 9 ms 8 ms 8 ms x.x.x.x
3 8 ms 9 ms 8 ms x.x.x.x
4 9 ms 28 ms 8 ms x.x.x.x
5 9 ms 7 ms 8 ms xxxxxxxxxxx
6 175 ms 174 ms 175 ms pal9-dhiraagu-4-mv.pal.seabone.net [195.22.218.5
3]
7 291 ms 290 ms 289 ms new4-new11-racc1.new.seabone.net [195.22.216.235
]
8 294 ms 296 ms 292 ms sl-gw37-nyc-3-0-1.sprintlink.net [144.223.27.73]

9 295 ms 293 ms 294 ms sl-crs2-nyc-0-13-3-0.sprintlink.net [144.232.13.
67]
10 290 ms 299 ms 291 ms sl-crs2-nyc-0-13-0-0.sprintlink.net [144.232.3.1
07]
11 294 ms 293 ms 293 ms sl-bb24-nyc-11-0.sprintlink.net [144.232.13.185]

12 291 ms 295 ms 290 ms 144.232.9.118
13 365 ms 365 ms 367 ms cr2-pos-0-0-0-0.losangeles.savvis.net [204.70.19
2.86]
14 316 ms 312 ms 312 ms ber1-tenge-3-1.losangeles.savvis.net [204.70.193
.50]
15 341 ms 301 ms 295 ms bbr02-ge-2-12.lax02.us.xeex.net [216.152.255.61]

16 294 ms 293 ms 297 ms bbr01-gi-2-8.lax02.us.xeex.net [216.151.129.198]

17 313 ms 314 ms 313 ms rabbit.unixbsd.info [208.87.243.194]
18 313 ms 294 ms 295 ms unassigned.psychz.net [208.87.243.227]

===============
IP Whois Results:
===============
OrgName: Psychz Networks
OrgID: PSL-86
Address: 20687-2 Amar Rd. #312
City: Walnut
StateProv: CA
PostalCode: 91789
Country: US

NetRange: 208.87.240.0 - 208.87.243.255
CIDR: 208.87.240.0/22
NetName: PSYCHZ
NetHandle: NET-208-87-240-0-1
Parent: NET-208-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: DNS1.PSYCHZ.NET
NameServer: DNS2.PSYCHZ.NET
Comment:
RegDate: 2008-02-29
Updated: 2008-02-29

OrgAbuseHandle: NOC3077-ARIN
OrgAbuseName: NOC
OrgAbusePhone: +1-626-549-2801
OrgAbuseEmail: noc@psychz.net

OrgNOCHandle: NOC3077-ARIN
OrgNOCName: NOC
OrgNOCPhone: +1-626-549-2801
OrgNOCEmail: noc@psychz.net

OrgTechHandle: NOC3077-ARIN
OrgTechName: NOC
OrgTechPhone: +1-626-549-2801
OrgTechEmail: noc@psychz.net

===============
mvelections.com info
===============
Owner of this domain information

Hasan Zaheer
Married to Aaminth Htnimaa
Birthday: June 4, 1985

Groups which the domain owner is active @ FaceBook.
AnDhiRi FC, PETTiTION to BRING BACK Mohamed latheef ACCOUNT, i love Traveling , ethos Maldives Pvt Ltd., A.T, allban-navaa / S.Hulhudhoo, In The Loving Memory Of Died Babies , Opposition Unite Against Gayoom, EC SUCKS , Hussain Rasheed (Bufalhi) as MP to represent HulhuMeedhoo, AnDhiRi community, TENT, Alethea International School, Andhiri, SriLankan Holidays, Next President Of Maldives, Anni for President , Maldivian Cartoon Party (MCP), FLAVA

Domain Name: mvelections.com
Registrar: Name.com LLC

Expiration Date: 2009-09-23 18:30:43
Creation Date: 2008-09-23 18:30:43

Name Servers:
ns1.netbizmaldives.com
ns2.netbizmaldives.com

REGISTRANT CONTACT INFO
NLS
Hasan Zaheer
G.fenel
Male
Henveiru
201654
MV
Phone: +960.0096907774855
Email Address:

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT INFO
NLS
Hasan Zaheer
G.fenel
Male
Henveiru
201654
MV
Phone: +960.0096907774855
Email Address:

TECHNICAL CONTACT INFO
NLS
Hasan Zaheer
G.fenel
Male
Henveiru
201654
MV
Phone: +960.0096907774855
Email Address:

BILLING CONTACT INFO
NLS
Hasan Zaheer
G.fenel
Male
Henveiru
201654
MV
Phone: +960.0096907774855
Email Address: midians@gmail.com

Related Domains
NetBizMaldives.com
Reallynattu.com

mvelections.com Polll results as @ 17.50pm 1 october 2008

Umar Naseer	1933	36.00%
Dr. Hassan Saeed	1731	32.30%
Ibrahim Ismail	899	16.80%
Mohamed Nasheed	663	12.40%
Gasim Ibrahim	79	1.50%
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom	62	1.20%

Final results as mv election says NOW are : -

Here are the results of the poll. Multi Voting was enabled during the voting but it wasn't counted in the final results.We counted one vote per ip. Here is the in-correct results for the poll.

Dr. Hassan Saeed	1933	36.00%
Mohamed Nasheed	1731	32.30%
Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom	899	16.70%
Gasim Ibrahim	663	12.40%
Umaru Naseer	80	1.50%
Ibrahim Ismail	62	1.20%

Have a look at the above figures and decide yourself.

I believe this is a Hassan Saeed propaganda! probably (advice from Hill & Knowlton)

Supreme Court judges report to Seyku Rasheed

2008-09-30T09:20:00.001-07:00

This Thursday is supposedly a big day for the newly formed Supreme Court of the Maldives. The case submitted by Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) to ban Gayyoom from seeking office as he has served more than two terms already, will be heard that afternoon. Later on the same day, a decision will be taken of the case by Adhaalath Party to rule on whether Gayyoom is a Sunni Muslim and the case on the eligibility of MDP candidate Mohamed Nasheed will also be heard later on Thursday evening.

However, many are aware that the Supreme Court Judges are going to rule in favour of the dictator as sources within the regime say that the judges are directly reporting to Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim, former chief justice and head of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. According to them, the Supreme Court will throw away the two cases against Gayyoom but it is unclear what Gayyoom will decide to do on Anni's case. The case against Anni will be heard at 10:00 pm on Thursday night.

What is sad is that despite the separation of powers, on the outset, the dictator is very much in control of all three, the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.

Supreme Court on trial: Is it man enough to reject Golhaa?

2008-09-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

The newly formed Supreme Court faces its baptism of fire barely a week into its existence. Liberal Party has challenged Golhaabo’s candidacy for a ridiculous 7th term on the grounds that it violates the spirit and letter of Article 73 of the Maldives Constitution. The verdict it gives will make or break the nascent Supreme Court, demonstrating to the nation whether the Court is man enough to guide the Maldives into a fully fledged democracy, or spineless enough to be Golhaabo’s next puppy.

Coming to the actual issue, the case before the Court is open-and-shut if at all there was one. The spirit of the constitution is to limit the terms of a President to two. How does anyone in his right mind believe this generation of Maldivians will wait another 10 years for the old goat to die before they can see a new face? How is it that the aspirations of an entire nation must be sacrificed at the altar of a barefaced crook?

The letter of the Constitution as expressed in Article 73 is also quite clear on the issue. There is no need to go into fruitless debates on “this” and “that” when the very legal basis for the summoning of the Special Majlis is to amend the Constitution, as there is no provision to abolish the Constitution. This is demonstrable in Golhaabo’s letters to Majlis and his own speeches before he became greedy once again. The question is will the Court see all this?

A more appropriate question is will Golhaabo allow the Court to speak its own mind? The prospects are dim considering that Supreme Court has selected Golhaabo’s nephew Shaheen Hameed as its lawyer. Why on earth did the Court choose him of all people? Everyone knows he is a has-been.

At one time Shaheen was supposed to be the best lawyer in Maldives. But that was when his Dad was in charge of the courts and could make threatening phone calls to the judges. After daddy Moakulhi Hameed’s departure from the scene, few people if any hire Shaheen. It’s obvious why Shaheen is there.

It is stupid of Shaheen to talk about the importance of the Inthigaalee chapter. Everyone knows Golhaa’s members inserted clauses there that go against the main chapters of the Constitution just to accommodate Golhaa.

The Court to avoid being part of the family plot to sustain Golhaa’s dictatorship. Show your quality and guts.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

First ever court case against Maumoon

2008-09-23T09:39:00.001-07:00

The Supreme Court's first hearing on the case against Maumoon's candidature in the upcoming presidential elections is scheduled to be held tomorrow (24th September 2008) starting from 11:30 AM.

The Liberal Party submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court yesterday to nullify the Elections Commission's decision to allow Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom to contest the upcoming Presidential Elections.

According to the Party Spokesperson Uz. Hassan Latheef, Article 107 of the Constitution stipulates quite clearly that the Office of the President may not be held by one person for more than a total of two terms, and Maumoon has already occupied the Office for six terms.

Liberal Party requests the public to attend the hearing which will be held at the Supreme Court in Mulee-aage.

Ibra's Running Mate: Fathmath Nahid Shakir

2008-09-21T19:46:00.000-07:00

Until thrown into the limelight on 19 September 2008, by becoming the first female contender to the Maldivian Vice Presidency, Nahid has been a working mom. Bringing up two children and working for most part of their lives in developing the education system of the country, Nahid combines the challenges of both motherhood and a fulltime career in education.

Nahid has been working as a curriculum expert the last fourteen or so years. Receiving a Masters Degree (with distinction), from University of Reading, in Educational Planning and Organisation in 2006, Nahid has been a dedicated civil servant who is passionate about the state of education in the Maldives. Nahid has not made her disillusionment with the education system an excuse to give up her efforts to change it. Starting in 1983 as a lowly paid preschool teacher, she also worked in primary teaching before she decided she could do more for the nation by putting her efforts into curriculum development.

Living all her life in Male' has not made her a stranger to life in the Maldivian islands. While growing up she spent her school holidays in the atolls with her family. Also, in her work in the Educational Development Centre she has travelled widely within the country.

Married to Ahmed Athif (X-ray Athif), since 1986, they have two children Mun-ish (Moosh) 21 yrs and Mishya (Mishy) 15 yrs.

Coming from a close knitted family, Nahid and her siblings suffered the tragic loss of both their mother and father in a boat accident in 1991. Her parents had been on their annual trip to Meemu and Vaavu which had been a ritual ever since Nahid remembers.

According to her friends, Nahid is an understanding, trustworthy and generous person who is always there for them. Her friends consider Nahid 'a friend of substance' who is a good listener and who inspires confidence in people around her. Her links to the 'upperclass' has not stopped Nahid from embodying the hospitality and friendliness which is a cornerstone of Maldivian culture. People not as close to Nahid describe her as a 'traditional' Maldivian, extending the warmth and friendliness of the everyday neighbour. 'She is one of the few women who would stop on the street and speak to you even if she did not know you by name'.

Nahid values a set of admirable ethics, especially when it comes to work. A committed worker, Nahid completes her deadlines, a quality admired and appreciated by her colleagues . Not a woman to take the endless tea breaks or sit around chit chatting, she would do exactly what she was supposed to do: carry out multitudinous responsibilities in a limited number of hours everyday. Most of her students remember her as a vibrant teacher who showed them the meaning of acceptance and who had a smile for everybody.

As she slowly makes her mark on Maldivian life, Nahid will, to a large degree, be doing Maldivian women in general a service, despite their minority involvement in the nation's politics. The presence of such a woman at the heart of government bodes well for all Maldivians.

Ibra selects Nahid as running mate

2008-09-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Ibra has appointed Fathimath Nahid Shakir as his running mate. The announcement was made at a ceremony held at Dharubaaruge last night(19th Sepetember 2008).

Ibra's Running Mate and Drug Policy to be announced tomorrow night

2008-09-18T02:13:00.000-07:00

A special ceremony to announce Ibra's running mate and launch Ibra's drug policy will be held tomorrow night (Friday, 19th September 2008) at Dharubaaruge. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 9:30 PM. Everyone's invited.

source: www.ibra2008.com

Breaking News: First Round Of Elections Before Deadline

2008-09-16T03:37:00.001-07:00

Source: Minivan News
By Emily Reed in Malé
September 16, 2008

The first round of the country's first multiparty presidential elections will be held before the constitutional deadline, the Elections Commission has confirmed, but the second will be outside the date.

An official from the Elections Commission told Minivan News that an exact date will be announced on Tuesday evening, but said the first round would "definitely" be before 10 October.

It is likely the date is now expected to be around the 9th October, according to previous statements.

It comes after the presidential elections bill was passed in parliament, the second of the two bills required before finalisation of an election date. The first of the essential bills, the electoral bill, was passed on Monday.

A total of 32 MPs out of 42 voted for the bill at the session of Tuesday morning, after 6 out of 16 proposed amendments were accepted. The bill is expected to be ratified by the president within hours.

But elections commision spokesperson Mohamed Tholal said he does not think the second round - required if no candidate gains a majority - could also be held before deadline, and it is unclear what will happen in this scenario.

Nasheed has warned of a “legal void” if elections are not held by October 10, as no institution has the power to declare a new date.

The Election Commission has said it needs at least 23 days to complete necessary proceedings for the polls, which means the Presidential Election Bill was passed just in time for elections to be held before the 10 October deadline.

The commission first announced the nation’s first multi-party election could feasibly be held by 4 October if pre-election bills passed in parliament last week.

This would have allowed for the second round to be held before the deadline as well.

Seven candidates are competing against incumbent President Maumoon Abul Gayoom, who is seeking a seventh term in office after 30 years of power.

Ahmed Ali Sawad is the running mate of Qasim

2008-09-15T16:15:00.001-07:00

Breaking News

Male' - Ahmed Ali Sawad, who just completed his PhD reserach in Human Rights Law in Australian, has been confirmed as the running mate of Qasim Ibrahim, the presidential candidate of the Jumhooree Coalition. Sawad's name was announced tonight in a special meeting of JP in Male'. In the acceptance speech, Sawad said that he believes that the current regime of Gayyoom has failed and that with Qasim he can work towards establishing a proper democracy in the Maldives.

Qasim to announce running mate on Monday night

2008-09-14T15:02:00.001-07:00

Qasim Ibrahim, the presidential candidate of Jumhooree coalition is expected to announce his running mate in a special meeting to be held at West Park, Male’ at 9:30.

Jumhooree coalition is not giving any further details as to whom they are opting for but they have been speaking with several potential candidates. They are not even revealing a shortlist. The public has been eagerly waiting for running mate of Qasim after he postponed the announcement last week.

Qasim's Official website was launched in 2003

2008-09-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Qasim's official website was launched when Qasim started his reform agenda in 2003. Please visit the website to find out more information on Qasim

http://www.dhivehiobserver.com

Qasim kick starts southern campaign from Addu

2008-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

The presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Qasim Ibrahim arrived in Addu this morning to kick start his Southern campaign. He was accompanied by a senior delegation of the party and was warmly welcomed by party members and supporters on arrival.

According to party sources, he will spend the meeting people and visiting homes and will join a special Ifthaar event to be held in Islamiyya School this evening. The main party rally will be held later this evening at 9:00 pm in Hithadhoo School.

Qasim will travel to Fuahmulah tomorrow as part of his Southern Atolls campaign.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Avoid the Confusion - Avoid the Void

2008-09-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

It is time that the local media stop simply carrying all the confusion generated so religiously by some politicians to show why the elections cannot be held inside the timeline provided by the constitution

Every time such a story comes out, it is important that it be presented in the proper context, along with reasons to the contrary as well. Otherwise, it cultivates a kind of unsettling confusion in the minds of the innocent public, who expect things to go as decreed in the constitution.

An Appeal to the Media

We must all realize that none of us has the authority or the capacity to breach the constitution. We must all realize that none of us has the authority or the capacity to correct any wrong committed against the constitution. We must all realize that there is none of us who could show the next path or the next plan if we fail to achieve a timeline or task as provided in the constitution.

We must all grow up and assume responsibility to ensure that we all work to meet the deadline of 10 October for presidential elections.

This is not the time to feed our doubts and uncertainties to the public. It is time to deliver as expected of us, even if it means personal sacrifices, sleepless nights, and long hours.

Some Questions for the Discerning

If for any reason, the presidential elections slip beyond the constitutional deadline of 10 October, several questions would crop up.

Will the constitution recognize any presidential elections held later than the time decreed in the constitution? Who will decide those elections to be legitimate and within the constitution? Can it be within the legitimate powers of the parliament, a creature of the constitution, to decide a different set of dates for the presidential elections or to acquiesce to a postponement outside the constitutional timeframe?

Can the Elections Commission, a creature of the constitution, create a different set of dates? How valid will those dates be? Who will confirm the validity of any such dates? Will that set of dates be considered as lawful?

Can the Supreme Court give a new set of paths to walk, if we fail to achieve the 10 October deadline and fail to hold elections within the timeline? How legitimate would such an alternative path be? Can the Supreme Court, also a creature and ultimate guardian of the constitution go against the very constitution it shall uphold and apply? Can the Supreme Court do anything lawfully except apply, interpret, and decide according to the constitution? Can the Supreme Court have the right to put riders on the constitution, or provide alternative paths to follow? Who will confirm their validity?

Can anyone, all being created under the constitution, effectively and lawfully provide and alternative path or date to which is provided in the constitution? How valid would that be under the constitution?

The fact of the matter is that there is none in this country who could rectify a breach of the constitution.

All of our institutions, the president, the parliament, the Supreme Court, and the independent institutions are all mere creatures of the constitution, and derive powers from the constitution, and exercise their powers to the extent provided in the constitution. Proposing a mechanism outside the constitution or one that alters the constitution is simply outside the bounds of any institution under the Maldivian skies.

All of those institutions work under and inside the constitution. None of them can create a path alternative to the constitution, or rewrite a requirement provided in the constitution. None of them could lawfully provide a path not mentioned in or not recognized by the constitution.

Therefore, however pressed we are for time, which again is by and large due to our own doing, the only way forward is for all of us to work together and aim at holding the presidential elections in time.

There is no other lawful way. There is no other legitimate option. There is no other way in which we could serve the constitution.

Issues to Reflect upon

We must begin to spend time finding ways to meet the constitutional deadline, rather than wasting our precious time filling the minds of the public with serious confusion and political rhetoric.

We all should realize it. The media must realize it. It must stop giving space and airtime to those creative politicians who want to find space in the spectrum - who want to quietly prep the people for a Maldives placed in a constitutional vacuum.

If the country goes into crisis mode, they would not be there to take responsibility for any mishap, or failure. They would not be there to provide any hard answers to the tough legal questions that would be raised. They would not be there to lend any validity to any alternative path, when the country plunges into a constitutional void.

When this country goes into a constitutional vacuum, all minds would stop operating, and everyone would pass the buck to the other, but will not be able to put things right back within the constitution. None could say what would be the starting point, and none could say where the end would be.

Two Points to Remember

Please remember this simple point.

The president, cabinet, parliament, the judiciary, independent commissions and persons in independent offices, all state institutions, all persons in any State post, and simply all citizens are specifically asked by the constitution to comply with the provisions of the constitution from the moment it comes into force.

See article 299 of the constitution, if you have any doubt.

Please also remember this additional point.

Any deadline created outside the deadline of 10 October provided in the constitution would amount in effect to an amendment brought to the constitution.

The constitution is clear that there cannot be an amendment of the constitution until presidential and parliamentary elections have been held and the first president and the first set of parliamentarians have assumed their office.

See article 292 if one doubts my explanation. How clear does the constitutional lock against any amendment have to be?

When these two articles are read together, I do not know how someone subject to the constitution could even think of a day that we would have breached the constitution, or failed to achieve a deadline or task provided in the constitution.

Taking strength from those two provisions, I am also of the opinion, if we default in the presidential elections, nothing legitimate could follow thereafter from the constitution.

Why do we as Maldivians, want to take such a risk? Can we afford to take such a risk?

Repeating the Plea for Media

That is why it is time that the country's journalists and the media, who communicate with the public on these issues, need to understand the issue of a constitutional vacuum in its entirety, gravity, and enormity.

It is time that the media shall stop simple promotion of rhetoric generated by politicians, and push them to do their job and hold them to their task.

Instead of just informing the public on what the politicians are saying, media must now start to interpret those remarks in proper context, so that the public would know why certain politicians are claiming that elections cannot be held in the country by 10 October, and what the ramifications would be for the country, if we fall complacent and do not do our part to honor the constitution.

It is said in an advertisement to ban sale of fur and fur clothes, that, when the buying (of fur clothes) stops, the killing (of animals) would stop as well.

I want to borrow the idea of dependence here and say this: when media stops the promotion, the politicians would have to stop their sensation creating rhetoric and get back to work. That is where they all belong.

Source: www.mnasheed.com

Qasim's running mate announcement postponed

2008-09-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

The presidential candidate of Jumhooree Party (JP), Qasim Ibrahim, said in a meeting on Wednesday evening that due to certain issues he is unable to announce a running mate at the moment. Over the week, rumours were going around that former Attorney General and President of Maldivian Democratic Party, who recently joined JP, had been approved by the party council earlier this week. However, the party maintained that they will make a formal announcement in Wednesdays meeting. Some sources within the party report that they will announce a running mate in the next few days but are not speculating on the shortlist.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Gayyoom’s government hinders social and economic progress says Qasim

2008-09-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

In a special rally of the Republican Party held in Male’ last night, Mr. Qasim Ibrahim, party’s presidential candidate told a packed audience that this government gets in the way of social and economic progress. Qasim gave several examples from his own experiences and explained how he was refused permission to build a hospital in Laamu Atoll. “We proposed to build a full-fledge hospital in Laamu Atoll 18 years ago but the government refused to give us the permission”, Qasim said.

click to view photos

At the beginning of his speech, Qasim also highlighted the reason behind his continuous philanthropic work. “I came to Male’ from my island for education. I wan unable to get a proper education and I do not others to be deprived of a proper education. That is why I do my part in contributing to the society”, he explained.

Qasim also dismissed saying that he never got preferential treatment and the government tried their best to obstruct the development of his company. He also gave a detailed account of how he began his career, initially as a clerk at Central Hospital in Male’.

Qasim called on the Maldivian people to support his bid and let him deliver the change the people want. Qasim promises to build a nation that is based on justice and rule of law with opportunities for every citizen.

In addition to Qasim, party vice presidents; Muizzu Adnan and Ibrahim Shaheed Zaki, Dr. Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari of Adhaalath and Mohamed Naeem of Maldivian National Congress also addressed the packed crowd.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Maldives presidential poll delayed -official

2008-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Maldives will not hold its first-ever multi-party presidential poll on Oct. 4, owing to parliamentary delays in passing final reforms, the electoral commission said on WednesdayThe Maldives will not hold its first-ever multi-party presidential poll on Oct. 4, owing to parliamentary delays in passing final reforms, the electoral commission said on Wednesday.

"The date will be delayed. It depends on which day next week they pass the bills. It's hard to say if we can have an election by Oct. 10," Mohamed Tholal, assistant director-general of the Elections Commission, told Reuters.

Wednesday, 10 September 2008 14:55

Reuters

Rain or Shine, We must Avoid the Void

2008-09-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

Source: Mohamed Nasheed on his blog www.mnasheed.com

I was disappointed with the parliament sessions held yesterday and today.

Parliament Yesterday

The whole day yesterday was spent debating and discussing a report from a parliament committee on emoluments of speaker, deputy speaker, Chief Justice, other Supreme Court justices and members of the independent institutions.

Neither the report of the public finance committee of the parliament, nor the exercise of allocating emoluments itself, was worth a full day's debate. To exacerbate the day, the debate itself was largely tangential to the issue before the parliament.

However, the Speaker did not want to bring the members back from the wilderness. He spent some cool hours on the chair knowing fully well, what was happening in the chamber was not what he had intended to see through the day's agenda.

The result was this: tabling the Presidential Elections Bill had to be put on hold - unnecessarily - for another day.

Parliament Today

Although we were lucky to start debate on the presidential elections bill, after losing first half hour of the day today, to continue with yesterday's debate on salaries and emoluments, the session was largely no better than yesterday's.

Everyone knew that we were losing valuable time. Everyone knew that we were all under pressure to deliver.

There were repeated pleas to cut the debate short, reduce the number of speakers, keep the focus on the subject of the bill, prevent recurrence of same talking points, and disallow irrelevant or lengthy points of order, which often were just out of turn interventions to make an unwelcome impression.

The pleas for a productive day fell on deaf ears, and some members seemed to have enjoyed finding a way to pass time during otherwise cumbersome fasting hours of the midday.

We could see the self-acclaimed Thomas Jefferson of the Maldives constitution attempting to drill democratic definitions into our heads. We could see the self assumed dean of parliament standing up to put the country on a fairer path. We could see the "genuine" reformers trying to show how genuinely they wished the people of this country every good.

It was nothing but a show of useless political grandstanding with no relevant aim or cause in sight - long live our new found values of democracy and tolerance.

Election Reaction

All of this is apparently a bitter reaction from some quarters to the announcement by the Elections Commission yesterday to hold the first round of presidential elections tentatively on 4th October, if all relevant electoral bills were done with inside this week.

Somehow, some members, or rather, some parties, feel that their candidates need more time to campaign. If their candidates do not get time to campaign to their hearts fullest, the elections cannot be held democratically, or the freeness or fairness of those elections would be thrown into serious doubt.

What we saw in parliament yesterday and today was nothing but another futile attempt to stalemate the elections process and checkmate those who are trying to push things through.

I say that it is yet another attempt to torpedo the process and the progress, for a reason. I have seen this attempt made several times at every important juncture. It is all in the script.

When the constitution was passed, several challenges were in built during the last stages thinking they would not be possible to be overcome. The appointment of the prosecutor general was to be disrupted, and the selection of members to the elections commission, were never to materialize, by raising the bars high on short-listed candidates. The same has been lobbied for the Supreme Court, now. The passage of all relevant bills was to be another important roadblock.

Somehow, the forces hell bent on arresting the forward movement under the constitution had to succumb to the forces equally converged on pushing the process through, whatever the cost.

Last Constipation

Now what we see is the one last attempt to hijack the electoral process before parliament loses control over the process. The attempt is to see if the process could collapse if things were held back just a little longer on the bills. So that, the elections commission could have no choice but to confirm their inability to deliver on the already conditional promises tied to the presence of key election legislations.

In the name of fairness of elections, somehow, some have been trying to take this country towards a constitutional vacuum. My question is why take such a huge risk - and to laugh at whom, except own selves? Why spit in the air, face up?

That is not helping a nation, begin a period of transformation or democratization. That is hijacking the country's democratic processes and transitional aspirations through nice talk and populist rhetoric.

Frustration Excursions

We do not attend parliament to listen to reactions to frustrating political compromises inked together the night before by some parliamentarians, or the unpopular presidential campaigns held by some candidates the last time they traveled to the country's atolls.

We do not attend parliament to waste the best part of the day there listening to some creative politicians taking maximum advantage of the nightly parliament broadcasts so that the may communicate confusion and encourage chaos to the larger electorate.

Hey, I am the best, the most devout reformer of all - things must go my way or no way - if I am not involved in it, then it must not be democratic - are what echoes out of a session of parliament on an otherwise killing morning of a fasting month while the country awaits news that the elections bills are done.

Two days

Now we got two days, Wednesday and Thursday to finish the presidential elections bill and the general electoral rules bill. If need be, extra sessions must be held during the weekend as well to meet the target.

It is but our job to ensure that by Sunday morning, Elections Commission has their bibles with them: the Electoral Rules Act and the Presidential Elections Act, in addition to the Maldives constitution.

Come rain or shine, there is no other choice but to assist the Elections Commission and get this thing done with.

Unlike what the speaker has opined, or the self acclaimed Thomas Jefferson of the Maldives has proposed, I am inclined to believe what the MDP parliament group leader Afeef said.

According to him, work on the presidential elections bill does not need to be kept on hold until the general electoral rules bill is made into law just because each has cross references to the other, and each needs to be read with the other. In fact, the two bills need to be in the same committee now to be worked on together, and tied well to each other while ironing out any creases.

I am not sure why the Speaker or our self assumed Dean of parliament does not find the logic in that proposal. Perhaps, they have run out of ways to delay the process.

Selfish Gains

We can push this country through this process, only, if we do not care who takes the credit for our work, rise above our own self centered egos, cut our ties with positions we have entrenched on our own, start appreciating things from a more national perspective, and agree upon a win-win formula for all.

We came much later than our country did. The country would remain long after we are gone. There is no use, trying to engrave our footprints on it, with creative ethnocentric populism and self-centered political grandstanding.

The Difference

They say that, the difference between politicians and statesmen is that politicians look at the next election, while statesmen look at the next generation.

This is our moment to be less of politicians and more of statesmen in our disposition, and in discharge of our responsibilities.

Can Golhaabo be forced to withdraw from presidential race?

2008-09-09T09:01:00.001-07:00

As everyone knows, under the amended constitution ratified last month, no one can seek office for more than two 5-year terms but the Maldives Dictator is hell bent on remaining in office at any cost. He is calling it a new constitution.

However, he may be in for a surprise as his own brother Abdulla Yameen, head of Peoples Association (PA), is reportedly colluding with several key politicians and trying to take control of the Supreme Court. If that happens, he could very well try to come up with a judgment banning Golhaabo from standing for office this time. According to sources close to Yameen, with Golhaabo out of the picture, the DRP will have to make an alliance with his party and he could declare himself the Presidential Candidate of DRP-PA coalition. The source also said Thasmeen Ali, the current running mate of Golhaabo is a pawn of Yameen, placed there to facilitate his rise to power.

Of course these are just conspiracy theories but pundits say that Yameen may very well be the preferred choice of Golhaabo if he could not stand for office. Also, despite earlier indications from Yameen, he has not yet thrown his hat in to the race. Yameen’s associates say that he has not given up on the idea and has a cunning plan to get what he wants.

Yameen, left the cabinet about two years ago and formed his own party recently, after running it as just Peoples Association. Some of his colleagues until late have since moved on and joined the party of his rival Qasim Ibrahim, the Republican Party. A few like ‘Underwear’ Nazim is still by Yameen’s side.

The source also said that Yameen has also agreed to join his brother’s cabinet and will take on Finance and Trade under one ministry. Furthermore, his associate ‘Underwear Nazim’ will also join him in the cabinet.

Looks like the ‘Kaaminee Clan’ isn’t yet ready to give up their stronghold on power without a fight.

Of course, people like Golhaabo and Yameen should never be under estimated. Nevertheless, one thing is certain this time, that the people of Maldives are going to get a free vote and Golhaabo could be ousted provided the opposition groups unite.

We will know the outcome in just a few weeks. Golhaabo’s fate could be sealed in the first week of October if elections take place on the 4th as being proposed by the Election Commission.

Source: Dhivehi Observer

Ibra Condemns Gayoom Over Taking Credit For Schools

2008-09-08T23:50:00.000-07:00

Social Liberal Party presidential candidate Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) has condemned President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for taking credit for establishing schools in every atoll.

In a statement from the party, Ibra said the construction of schools in every atoll came after the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) made an arrangement with former president Ibrahim Nasir before he left office.

At last week’s televised Presidential Q&A, Gayoom had said: “When I became president there were only four government schools. Now there are 221 government schools.”

Speaking as someone involved in the project, Ibra said schools began to be constructed when Gayoom came into power because UNICEF had provided the materials and volunteer work.

Source: www.minivannews.com

Breaking News: Elections Slated For 4 October

2008-09-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Maldives' new elections commission on Monday announced a provisional elections date of 4 October, leaving less than a month until the country's first ever multi-party presidential polls.

The date is contingent on the Presidential Elections Bill and Supreme Court nominations passing a parliamentary vote by the end of this week.

And the commission plans to vet candidates' applications to stand by 24 September, with applications opening next week.

"We can give [candidates] ten days" to campaign, said new elections commissioner Mohamed Ibrahim.

"When we took over, a lot of work had been done by the previous Elections Commission. But there's a lot more that needs to be done," Ibrahim said.

The timeframe requires changes to the draft Presidential Elections Bill, under debate in the Majlis (parliament) on Monday.

And the five-member commission, the first independent body to oversee elections in the country, does not yet know what groups will be observing the polls.

It is the first time in his 30 year rule that incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will face opponents at the polls, but two political parties have cast doubts over whether there is time to prepare for a free and fair election.

The new commission, voted in last week, is currently working to translate the existing, provisional voter list into Dhivehi, having received 702 complaints on the list initially released by the previous elections commission in English.

"Vote counting centres in the atolls have been decided," said Ibrahim. He said work is underway to establish a system for Maldivians abroad to vote.

Seven candidates have already said they plan to challenge President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom at the polls, with the first, former attorney general Dr Hassan Saeed, announcing his candidacy last year.

Former finance minister Gasim Ibrahim, of the Republican Party, Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) of the largest opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) of the Social Liberal Party and Umar Naseer of the Islamic Democratic Party are also actively campaigning.

But equal coverage on state media does not officially begin until the campaign period is announced.

Past elections had been held under a one-candidate referendum system, and overseen by an elections commissioner appointed by the president.

The elections will be the culmination of a four-year reform process which saw a new constitution ratified on 7 August.

Reforms followed international criticism over a crackdown on widespread protests in 2003, sparked by the death of prisoner Evan Naseem at the hands of security forces.

www.minivannews.com
By Judith Evans in Malé
September 8, 2008

Manipulating the Elections Commission

2008-09-08T00:58:00.000-07:00

There seems to be some debate in the public domain on the manner in which DRP has come to "own" and "manipulate" to its advantage, the membership of the Elections Commission.

Political Motivation

I feel that the discussion is purposefully engineered for political reasons, and more specifically, to cast doubt and bias over the functioning and decisions of the Commission - simply because, certain nominations put forward by certain parties on certain considerations, were not voted in for the Commission when the time came.

Thirty-day Timeline

Meeting the timeline of 30 days for the formation of the Elections Commission had been one of the primary concerns of the government. This was evident in the remarks I made to the media on the night of the protest at the Presidential Palace over the ratification of the constitution.

If the Commission could not be formed within the 30 day deadline due to the difficulty to get the two third majority clearance for every candidate, there was no plan B. There was no agreement on what should happen next.

Hence the government took it upon itself to ensure that the Commission had to be set up at every cost to ensure the process did not derail, and the country did not plunge into a constitutional void.

Deal on Nominations

The constitution required names to be sent by parties to the parliament. Eight parties sent names for five seats. Naturally candidates of three parties would have to be left out.

The question was how to get the agreement of parliament members to the amount votes needed to pass the two third threshold.

DRP linked to government could not have pulled it off on its own in parliament. DRP dealing with Peoples Alliance, a party owned by ex DRP bosses could not have done it on their own either. MDP with their relatively few members in parliament could not have done it alone by themselves either.

The nearest we could go for two thirds was having an agreement amongst those three parties.

Ibrahim Ismail is a presidential candidate, and a single voice, with just one vote, representing Social Liberals inside the parliament. His agreement meant nothing for the rest.

Republican Party had at least 10 parliamentarians but they could not be said to be the largest opposition to the government. MDP for all purposes would be that opposition. Therefore, outside the parliament, they were still to be formed and organized in a palpable way.

Besides, the Republican parliamentarians had already started sending out express and implicit signals that they had the ultimate control over the process and that their blessing was crucial for any forward movement. Their message was clear, that, they would torpedo anything that did not meet their requirements.

Naturally, a desire was evident amongst rest of the parliamentarians of other key parties to give out an equally strong message that Republicans could be proven wrong.

Seat Allocation

After intense proposals that went back and forth, it was agreed that MDP should be provided with two seats on the Commission. Earlier DRP had asked for two. Reason was that it was the largest faction within the parliament and outside the parliament, and had two other parties aligned with it. The remaining seat was given to IDP to bring in a Republican candidate through an alternative route.

How MDP could be given a second seat to balance power with DRP was the issue. It could be done only if a party supporting DRP could be encouraged to promote a candidate preferably from or at least acceptable to MDP. That was done when Peoples Party promoted the name of an MDP choice.

Hence, the deal was done a day or so ahead of the vote, that People's party would carry the name of Fuad Thiwfeeq acceptable to MDP, in addition to allowing MDP to carry its own candidate Ahmed Shahid. DRP and its ally MSDP floated names of Mohamed Ibrahim and Mohamed Mahir respectively. The name of Ali Faiz, a Republican, but promoted by IDP was the fifth candidate. The package was completed.

Saved in Time

Peoples Alliance was the central force that brought the deal together between DRP and MDP. There is no secret about that. In turn, DRP relied heavily on Peoples Alliance and MDP to collect the necessary votes and form the Commission inside the thirty day period.

Ultimately, the Commission was voted in on the 29th day of the constitutionally imposed deadline of 30 days. The Commission had two chairs aligned to DRP, two chairs aligned to MDP, and one chair aligned to the Republicans.

No Ownership

In this allocation of seats, it is highly creative to suggest that DRP has manipulated the Commission and has owned it de facto. Three of the five seats represent opposition to the government at worst, or neutrality at best.

I am certain that despite the many accusations to the contrary, the Elections Commission would prove its independence, deliver on its expectations, and base their decisions on fair play.

www.mnasheed.com

State Media giving equal time for Presidential Candidates is a joke

2008-09-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

Minister of Information, Arts and Legal Reform, Mohamed Nasheed Kutti always maintained that the state media TVM will give equal opportunity to all Presidential candidates and he appeared to have kept his word – that is until last night. On Friday night in an unprecedented move, the TVM gave the opportunity to Dictator Gayyoom to answerback all the issues that were raised in the Presidential Debate shown live on TV on 3rd September.

A live transmission of the Dictator’s speech to the DRP meeting was shown live on the national TV where the Dictator attempted to counter all the arguments raised by his opponents. As usual, he failed to do so but this is beside the point.

The point is Kutti Nasheed has once again proved that he is nothing but a derrière-kisser of the Dictator; and the likelihood of the TVM showing live the next speech by the other Presidential candidates to their respective parties is zilch.

In the Maldives, the state media giving equal time and opportunity for all the Presidential candidates is nothing short of a joke. It was, is and will always be the mouthpiece of Dictator Gayyoom as long as he remains in power.

Kutti, you should wake up and do the right thing. Why are you still aboard a ship that is bound to sink to the bottom of the sea in the next few weeks?

Dhivehi Observer